Willard

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Effective Movie
Review: "Willard" tells the story of a 30-something misfit, played by Crispin Glover. Willard is stuck in a dead-end job that he hates, and he has to care for his elderly mother who constantly belittles him. His life is miserable, until he finds a white rat dwelling in the basement of his Byzantine home. He befriends the rat and dubs him Socrates, and to his amazement he finds his basement flooded with other rats who listen to him. However, a fat rat named Ben comes onto the scene and changes everything.

A remake of the 1971 movie, the plot of "Willard" is completely inane but somehow manages to work. Glover brings an unbelievable amount of likeability to his role, which helps build sympathy for his character. R. Lee Ermey is also very good as Willard's exceptionally vile boss who eventually gets his just desserts. Of interest, the pictures of Glover's father that are seen throughout the house are actor Bruce Davison, who played Willard in the original movie.

Debut director Glen Morgan (writer of "Final Destination) employs a rather flashy style that helps "Willard" rise above similar B-movies. The movie also features some much appreciated humor, notably in a scene involving the song "Ben" by Michael Jackson. However, if you watch this movie expecting an explicit horror movie, then you may be a bit disappointed at the relatively gore-free first hour of the movie. Nevertheless, some of the later scenes are more graphic, and "Willard" is ultimately a surprisingly enjoyable movie.

Extras: The DVD is packed with extras. 1) An interesting commentary track featuring the director and Crispin Glover. 2) A 17 minute documentary called "Rat People," which features interviews with people who keep rats for pets. Narrated by Bruce Davison, the documentary features profiles of the rat fans interspersed with hilarious interviews with an exterminator and other rat-haters. 3) A video of Crispin Glover's remake of the song "Ben," which is hilarious. 4) A dozen deleted scenes, some of which show more graphic alternatives.

Rating:
Summary: It's a Shame 0 Stars Isn't an Option
Review: Ok, there was some bad films last year. Charlie's Angels 2, House of 1000 Corpses, and Gothika. But no movie was as bad Willard. You could say that this movie is at the bottom of the barrel, but really it doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentences with barrels. It's such a worthless and pathetic film that theres no wonder Saddam Hussein hated us, he probably saw this movie. The film stars Chrispen Glover, a low beat employee stuck at the same dead end job owned by this rich guy who he happens to hate. One night he hears rats, and like any other loser he becomes Friends with them and teaches them to kill people. Then he's shocked when he finds his mom lying in the stair way dead with rats crawling all over her. So he decides to kill his boss because his boss killed his favorite rat. This movie may not resemble the style of horror film that you're used to. For example when the rats take over he's looking at one and it bites him in the eye and blood squirts out. Or when he's looking over his moms casket and snoot squirts out of his nose. The movies awful, sick, disgusting, and just plain awful. There is no way that I would ever recommend this film to anyone. It is by far the worst film that I have ever seen, if you see this and like it check your self into a mental institution because you have serious problems.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely brilliant, if you're one of the few...
Review: As soon as I saw the trailer for Willard I got chills of excitement. Seeing Crispin Glover taking on this role was genius as it seemed to be the perfect vessel for his eccentric talent, though I also knew the film would not draw a large audience. The best ones never do. I was surprised to hear Glover was far from the first choice. It seems like a natural selection.

Having grown up in the 70's seeing the original film on late night TV, the primary selling point to me for this remake was Glover. I never found the rat-lover story exceptionally intriguing but with this casting it put such an excitement in me. I couldn't wait.

The weekend Willard opened shortly followed a personal trauma that left me in a lingering black mood and I hoped this film would remind me that I wasn't completely alone in the world, that there are others that enjoy and create the same things that appeal to me. I walked in the theater that afternoon to the absolute perfect setting. I was the only one there. I anxiously sat waiting for the film to start, hoping no one else would come in to bother me. The lights dimmed and the movie started with me the sole viewer. From the second the music started and the credits rolled I got a chill that remained for the duration of the film. What an amazing experience this was. Glover was, as anticipated, absolutely brilliant. The bits of wicked humor just added to my assumption that this film will not appeal to the average dullard going to see the latest Adam Sandler trash. When the mother decided to start calling Willard 'Clark' I about died. I didn't expect laughs from this film but, thankfully, the laughs I got were witty and intelligent. Glover plays the misfit Willard, a character that would probably make anyone uncomfortable if you met him in person but when you view his home life and other surroundings you can't help but sympathize with him. Since the movie's plot has been well covered I will just mention that I left the theater feeling 100% satisfied with what I saw.

The day the DVD was released I snapped it up. After loving the film a second time I watched the 73 minute documentary added to the disc. What a wonderful insight this was. It was so sad to see how poor the test screenings went. You could see the disappointment and frustration growing on director Glen Morgan's face with each slap from the ignorant public. This is what really burns me. A director dares to steps outside the standard Hollywood formula and the response he gets from the test audience is that it should be more like every other Hollywood film. I'm so bored by films that are nothing but last weeks big hit with a different setting, and occasionally different actors. I can guess most things before they happen and the predictability is stagnating. This film was amazingly original with a lasting effect. I was very pleased to see New Line sticking by their film, allowing the director to only make the changes he wanted to. The new ending they added retained it's dignity and did not detract from the film at all. My only complaint is they should have included the original R rated version as the "Directors cut" on the DVD as well.

By the end of the documentary the director looks a bit worn and drained. He was proud of his film, as he should be, but just terribly disappointed it made little public impact. I felt so bad for him I just wanted to give him a big hug. I hope he reads these postings from numerous fans of the film and takes comfort that while his film did not find an audience on its initial release, it's doing quite well at building a devoted cult following on video. I hope he continues to make films that he enjoys and not what Hollywood thinks he should. It seems the few negative remarks here are from people that think it wasn't very "scary". I enjoy a good scare myself but I also enjoy a smart film built on atmosphere and story, not effects. But then what do I know, my favorite film is The Stepford Wives (the original, not the horrid Hollywood remake).

Rating:
Summary: Crispin Glover IS Willard
Review: I usally don't like re-makes...

...but when you are remaking films from the early era of movies, before people had a concept of how to act, how to write a script, etc. Then it is alright with me, ecspecially when it comes to Dracula, Frankenstein, and of course The Fly. All of which have been recently remade, and done to capture what the original films failed to from the books or just could not given that the original actors and effects were so drab.

Willard is light years ahead of the original Crispin does a PERFECT job, infact this role must have been made for him!

If you are looking for scary, that you will not find, unless of course you are afraid of rats. On the other hand, if you have ever been the underdog, the guy who takes crap from people all day. Be it your co-workers, your boss, your teachers, what ever. If in general you have been treated unfairly and been given the shaft by "the man", or just hate our corrupt system in gernal. Then this movie is for you, the underdog! It is the horror/drama equivilent of Napoleon Dynomite, Angus, Revenge Of The Nerds, etc. :)

The acting was perfect, the sound track VERY amusing. There is VERY limited use of CGI! What more can you ask for!?

That's all I can say, just watch it!

Rating:
Summary: How Could You Like This Piece of Crap
Review: Man, this is a pile of [...], only rivaled by Halloween 3. If you own both of these movies then you should either throw them away now or kill yourself. The guy who played Willard did alright for such a bad part and the girl he liked looked good, but that's a given. It's against the law not to have the best looking people in movies. I really don't see how this has averaged 4 stars when everyone I know that's seen it hated it. Really, this is pure [...], piled ontop of more [...], then shoved in the toilet that's already clogged by [...].

Rating:
Summary: Mediocre, But Glover Is A Perfect Fit
Review: It's a shame that such a wonderfully weird actor such as Crispin Glover has never achieved the success of many other, lesser actors in Hollywood. He's flat out creepy and funny at the same time. With that said, Glover is the shining star of "Willard," a tale about a man gone mad, using rats to exact revenge on those who've spurned him.

The story starts out promising enough, showing Glover taking care of the rat problem his mother says that they have. He befriends one of the rodents, who he names Socrates. This rat becomes his favorite and it draws jealous reaction from Big Ben, one of the biggest rats I've ever seen outside of a nutria. Glover is constantly mistreated at work by the owner of the company his father started years ago. R. Lee Ermey is wasted as the jerk boss in this flick. His dialogue leaves him little to work with. He's fun to watch, but I wish that he would have been given better lines. As expected, he becomes the focus of Willard's ratty rage.

Slowly, Willard loses what little sanity he has left, as well as control of the rats. At first they do his bidding, but after awhile, they turn on him. I won't say why or how, but they do. Glover does a good job as he attempts to retain control of the rats, but things get a little too silly for my tastes.

The movie drags along at a snail's pace. The idea of a man running an army of rats seems pretty good at first, but Glover looks somewhat ridiculous scolding Ben and the rest of the rats in the feature. Had he been scolding a pack of wolves or something to that effect, the picture might have been better.

This movie had potential, but it wastes its superb cast on a plot that fumbles along with no real direction. It's a good way to burn a little time on a rainy afternoon, but it's not scary enough to be considered a horror film, and too silly to even be considered a dark comedy. Recommended to fans of Glover and Ermey, but prepare to be letdown somewhat.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining
Review: Now here's a subject I can really sink my teeth into: Crispin Glover. The name alone conjures up vivid mental images, most of them extremely unsettling. If you're like me, you first became aware of this actor when he co-starred in the highly successful "Back to the Future" franchise in the 1980s. He's since done a bunch of films--most of them flying in low on the radar screen--that usually showcase his unusual personality. "Unusual" is the operative word here because Glover is about as odd a duck as you can imagine, odd even for the general insanity that characterizes the maniacs running the Hollywood asylum. Crispin's penchant for spastic body language, shrieking vocal intonations, and bizarre facial expressions wouldn't seem to suit him for the number of major roles he has had in the past two decades. But what do I know? There might be millions of Crispin Glover fans out in the hinterlands literally frothing at the mouth in anticipation of his next picture. If this is the case, most of them should be quite happy with "Willard," the 2003 remake of the 1971 cult classic starring Bruce Davidson. I haven't seen the original, but the new version is surprisingly worth a look for both fans and non-fans of Glover.

Willard Stiles (Crispin Glover) has a life very few people would envy. His father passed away years before, leaving the family business in the hands Frank Martin (R. Lee Ermey), one of the worst bosses in the history of modern industry. As part of the arrangement of taking over the enterprise, Martin agreed to a clause in the contract stipulating that he must keep Willard on the payroll. This he does, but that doesn't mean he must treat Stiles with an ounce of respect. In fact, he constantly badgers the timid Willard, bullying and cajoling him over the slightest work related difficulties. Martin even locks Willard in the elevator one day after verbally haranguing him in front of the entire office. Sounds pretty terrible, right? Well, it gets worse. Young Willard lives in a rundown home with his ailing mother Henrietta (Jackie Burroughs), a woman who never misses an opportunity to run her son ragged. She's sort of the female equivalent of Fred Sanford in that she's been dying of the same ailment for decades. Henrietta is about as histrionic as Fred Sanford, too. Willard thus has no place, neither work nor home, in which he can seek solace. Even the beautiful Cathryn (Laura Herring), a new hire at work with a soft spot for Willard, provides little in the way of relief.

Then Willard's mother passes away. Left adrift at home with no responsibilities for the first time in years, Stiles finally has time to explore his abode. It isn't too long before he discovers his destiny, namely befriending the huge number of mice living in the walls of his house. In the basement, Willard discovers a white mouse he quickly dubs Socrates, and the two become the best of friends. Socrates is an extremely intelligent creature, able to understand Willard's every desire as well as muster the services of the other little beasties. The only obstacle to the newfound friendship between mouse and man is Ben, a gigantic brown sewer rat that also pops in from time to time. When Willard decides to use his little army to seek a little flat tire revenge against Frank Martin, he utilizes the skills of Ben to great effect. But things turn sour afterwards. Socrates garners the lion's share of Willard's attentions, leaving Ben feeling left out in the cold. This falling out will soon attain disastrous dimensions. In the meantime, the work situation deteriorates to the point that Martin, finally feeling free of his obligations after the passing of Henrietta, fires Willard. Worse, Martin kills Socrates after the little guy escapes from Stiles's desk. All heck breaks lose when Willard marshals his little army against his evil former boss.

"Willard" is an enjoyable little film. Glover gives a surprisingly nuanced performance as the hapless Willard Stiles, and even goes so far as to restrain his usually manic personality (until his breakdown after Martin fires him, that is). R. Lee Ermey is, as usual, the perfect choice to play an over the top villain. His Frank Martin is downright frightening, and should be instantly recognizable to anyone who has ever had a tyrant for a boss. Glover and Ermey do such a good job that it took me awhile to realize that the movie underutilizes Laura Harring as the possible love interest. She actually drops out of sight for large stretches of time during the movie. Just as important as the human actors are the mice, particularly Socrates and Ben, but the movie loses a bit of luster with the obvious CGI effect of thousands of mice swarming around Willard. I also must express disappointment with the PG-13 rating; I looked forward to lots of bloody atrocities in this movie only to discover relatively few, and decidedly tame, mice attacks. Even the demise of Martin is a letdown. An extra on the disc discusses the reasons for a friendlier cut of the film, and also shows us a slightly gorier version of Frank's expiration in a deleted scene.

Speaking of extras, the DVD for "Willard" contains plenty stuff. Trailers, deleted scenes, a commentary track, and an alternate ending are all here. So is a lengthy behind the scenes documentary, "The Year of the Rat," which explains every aspect of the pre-production, production, and post-production process. "Rat People: Friends or Foes?" examines real life individuals who keep rats and mice as pets. Be sure and check out Crispin Glover's music video "Ben" before finishing the disc. It's a weird one, perfectly fitting Glover's persona. Give "Willard" a shot the next time you go to the video store. You might be pleasantly surprised.



Rating:
Summary: Aw, RATS!!!!
Review: I just recently watched this movie and I admit, it was watched because I raise pet rats and wanted to see the ones used in the movie work their magic.
The movie, unfortunately was much under rated by the so called experts who gave it bad reviews. Glover is an excellent Willard and I cannot imagine any sequel not featuring him.
Having felt much like Willard in some cases, I found myself cheering for him (and the rats) throughout the entire movie.
I have watched the movie at least three times since purchasing it, and will no doubt watch it again. I am looking forward to finding a copy of the original Willard and watching it as well.
The cast was great, the scary scenes were plenty scary, and the rats did a masterful job doing their individual parts in the film.
If you missed this one, go back and pick up a copy for yourself, you will not be disappointed.


Rating:
Summary: Pretty good
Review: I can't say this is a chilling movie, but as a nice little novelty, it works. Crispin Glover plays Williard, a timid and slightly demented young man constantly abused by the always acidic R. Lee Ermey ("Full Metal Jacket").

This is not a horror movie. It is a slightly comical depiction of one man's horrendous loneliness and complete inability to relate to others. One thing I did find frightening, though, was Willard's mother, who looked like someone dug her up, embalmed her, and resurrected her for the purpose of being a creepy old lady.

I haven't seen the original, which I'm sure is better, but I have to say that Crispin Glover is a seriously unrecognized talent in Hollywood. He has an acting style I have never seen before, a sort of oddball charisma unmatched by the greats, Billy Bob Thornton, etc. He is, needless to say, the highlight of this largely dull little film. Poor Socrates.

Rating:
Summary: More tedious than terrifying
Review: Not having seen the 1971 original, I'm in the unusual position of being able to evaluate the new incarnation of "Willard" on its own terms. It's beautifully crafted, elaborately staged, and clearly used all of its $22 million budget. Pity that writer/director Glenn Morgan seems to have forgotten two things: the importance of plot, and the rather obvious point that a horror movie about swarming rats and their murderous master should, at least momentarily, be terrifying. This is occasionally comic, but mostly lugubrious. We spend half the film waiting for Willard to discover the extent of his power over the rats, and the other half waiting for him to use it effectively. There's the in-your-face subtext of Willard's personal empowerment to think about, of course, but do we ever actually care? Not really, mainly because Crispin Glover gives his unique but typically alienating two-note performance: embarrassingly violent emoting; and a creepy, wild-eyed, silent writhing somewhere between orgasm and a death rattle. This is ultimately the story of a lonely outsider, so the essence of making it work, at least in terms of characterization, is to give us a guy we can relate to and believe in. But as played by Glover and directed by Morgan, Willard is more theatrically pitiful than endearing. The others aren't much better. Laura Harring just wanders around, apparently wondering what she's doing there, perhaps hoping it might turn out to be as good as "Mulholland Drive", while R. Lee Ermey fills out the Evil Boss caricature as best he can. Overall, this is slow, disengaging and ultimately disappointing.