LoginWhen I first heard of this movie, I thought it was a really neat concept but I was pretty sure they would really mess it up, giving us another lame supposedly edgy/sexy comedy. However, since I kept hearing some pretty good things about the damned thing, I thought I might as well check it out. Well, eventually, I have to admit that they actually really nailed it. Indeed, they promised us a wild party and that’s exactly what they gave us. Seriously, if you have ever enjoyed or dreamed about going to something huge like this, you will certainly have a blast watching this. Of course, the parties I have been to never were so massive and some stuff displayed in this movie was slightly over-the-top, but, the great thing is that it was just slightly over-the-top and most of it was highly possible and completely recognizable. Indeed, that’s what a party should look like and, once in your lifetime, you should try to achieve something like this. On top of that, the found-footage approach, a terribly overused gimmick in the horror genre, was just perfect here. Obviously, there were still a few elements that didn’t really work. For example, the main character was complaining way too long about the fact that the party was too big. Furthermore, the whole romantic triangle involving the main character, his childhood crush and the hottest girl from his school was seriously generic and predictable. Finally, the scene towards the end with the guy with the flame-thrower didn’t belong in this movie at all and barely worked at all. Still, in spite of its flaws, I thought it was a decent watch and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre.
Project X Reviews
A good movie
Posted : 8 years, 2 months ago on 18 February 2016 10:22
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Project X review
Posted : 11 years, 7 months ago on 2 September 2012 02:52
First and foremost, another found footage- first person shot style movie? I had this same feeling towards Chronicle since these movies have arrived at an unfortunate time where these movies are coming out every so often. The difference between this movie and Chronicle is that, Chronicle managed to do something different and put a nice spin on the genre. The same cannot be said with this movie, there is nothing original about this movie.
This movie also took itself too seriously. I was hoping there would be some humor in this movie because sometimes that can make a huge difference but, there was no humor at all. It wasn't funny, I only chuckled once or twice because of the dog. I'm not sure why this is labeled as part comedy.
It would have helped if we had character's to care about. Costa is just an asshole and I would never want a friend like him. So the fact that Thomas was friends with him didn't make me feel sympathetic towards him after everything that happened, he deserved what he got. The relationship between Kirby and Thomas has been done many times before, the guy who ends up having feeling towards his tomboy best friend. The ending between them would have had a more emotional impact had they developed the relationship but alas we're only reduced to a few clips between them. The real character is the party and I like that idea, but there's no point of it if their is nothing to latch onto.
There's really no point on commenting on the acting since not much is required for these parts. Anyone could pull off like they're having the times of their life. From the few clips before and after the party the actors are okay but there's not enough to come up with a definite conclusion.
The way the first person style is used I almost forget it's being shot by a held hand camera from one of the "actors". It rarely shakes which is good so I didn't have to deal with the usual side effects of feeling nauseous and getting headaches. However, just seeing a bunch of people jumping up and down gets boring after a while especially as I mentioned before, there's nothing to latch onto. I will admit there were some cool moments during the party but those weren't enough to save this atrocity.
Overall, this could have like Chronicle, done something different, put a new spin on the genre but this was a bunch of missed opportunities. This movie did have some moments during the party, but that wasn't nearly enough to save the movie. There is no humor, no characters to care about, not much excitement, and most of the party scenes are boring and sluggish. I also like how there was music playing from nowhere in the scenes before the party. It's not like it was coming from someone's iPod or something, it would come out of nowhere, I thought this was suppose to be a found footage movie? Also, some of the characters recording were somewhat creepy. They would ease drop on Thomas's parents having a conversation or him almost having sex with the hottest girl in school. This just came off as creepy to me. No I haven't been to too many parties but this is just crappy film making.
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God, I wish my parties were this fucked up...
Posted : 11 years, 8 months ago on 13 August 2012 01:08
Before watching Nima Nourizadeh's Project X, I absolutely thought I was going to hate it. Everything about it just looked cliché, obnoxious, and just down-right stupid. Well, after seeing it, I can confirm that it ticks off on all the points I just mentioned. This film features characters we've all seen before, with some that are very unlikeable, and some truly silly moments - but that's where all fun comes from. Yes, I had an extremely good time with Project X, and no one is more shocked than I am when I say that. This is the very definition of a guilty pleasure. There's nothing deep, morally decent or witty about this comedy - all the humour comes from how insane the film becomes. Shot in the found-footage style of filmmaking, Project X made me wish the parties I went to were just as fucked up and insane.
Thomas (Thomas Mann) is celebrating his 18th birthday on the same weekend his parents go away for a wedding anniversary trip; he and his friends Costa (Oliver Cooper) and JB (Jonathan Daniel Brown) decide to have a party in Thomas' family home in suburban Pasadena. Invitations are sent out through social media, and the party soon spirals out of control.
Written by Matt Drake and Michael Bacall, Project X doesn't spend any real time in making us care about its characters - like I said, there's nothing deep here at all. Mainly, the film just builds up momentum, basically keeping us entertained with how insane Thomas' party gets. I've taken a real liking to Michael Bacall lately, after his writing work on 21 Jump Street and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Bacall has a knack for really giving younger audiences what they want, and he does so perfectly here with co-write Drake. The character of Thomas can be related to by many audience members as he is basically depicted as a nerd and an ordinary guy. Any one who's had to throw a party will notice similarities between them and Thomas, as he himself experiences certain feelings that most of us have dealt with. For example, stressing out if anyone will show up at the party, and trying to keep everything under control.
On the down side, there are moments in the film where you can tell that the film is so obviously scripted. The found-footage style should give the film the illusion of realism, but there are so many sub-plots that go against this. The character of Costa in particular is so unlikeable, and he's a basic rip-off of Stifler from the American Pie franchise. A certain key sub-plot in the film revolves around Thomas and his friend Kirby, who has a crush on him. However Thomas fancies popular girl Alexis, and thus, this causes tension between the three characters. We all know where this is going, and clichés like this just shatter the whole realistic angle of the film. Along with that, the ending just doesn't give off any real consequence for any of the characters' actions. Yes, the film isn't supposed to be morally correct, but selling the idea that one can just throw a cataclysmic party and get away with it just seems a bit silly to me.
The three lead actors are actually quite good in their roles. Thomas Mann is naturalistic in his line delivery, and definitely slips into his teenager character with ease. Oliver Cooper plays the stereotypical obnoxious friend, but he does it well. Likewise, Jonathan Daniel Brown is the cliché fat character, but like Cooper, he pulls it off and makes us believe that he's a real person. The great thing is that all the actors here are young, and thus they've experienced many things these characters are going through. All the extras definitely give off the vibe that they're having a great time, and they were even allowed to record moments during production on their phones, allowing Nourizadeh to have a ton of footage to work with.
At the end of the day, Project X just wants to have fun with its audience. The best part is that everything is so over-the-top that you just tend to forget about all the atrocities and go along for the ride. Thomas' party just gets so out of control, and that's the real fun of it. None of the humour is in the dialogue - it's the events that make you laugh. I won't say this is the most hilarious film I've seen all year, but I definitely enjoyed the sheer amount of chaos that erupted at the party. Like I said earlier, the filmmakers had so much footage to work with, and they make excellent use of it. Edited by Jeff Groth, the film uses News footage shot from a helicopter, security cameras, and camera phones. All this is mashed up together perfectly, and there are a few montages that just add to the fun of the film. It is a bit strange to see a montage in a found-footage film, but let's face it - a montage with perfectly licensed music is a staple in any party film. Speaking of music, the soundtrack was terrific and definitely gives the film a real youthful energy. Also, I liked the fact that the film really embraced its R rating - there's constant references to booze and drugs, a lot of nudity, and a ton of swearing.
Overall, I enjoyed the living hell out of this film. I know it's not for everyone, and if you don't like films like this, then stay away. Project X is targeted for those who can really ignore all flaws and just enjoy the ride. There's stopping how insane the film gets, particularly during the climax. If you're expecting witty humour and deep messages, you are a total idiot. However, if you're looking for an insanely fucked-up time at the movies, look no further than Project X.
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Project X
Posted : 11 years, 10 months ago on 23 June 2012 03:32
Project X is attempting to be The Hangover of college party movies, with over the top dramatics, and over exaggerated party scenes. This film takes the idea of an insane party and adds in all the extremes, which does make for good visuals. Project X is nothing but booze, boobs and horny teenagers. If that is your cup of tea then I suggest you check it out.
It does have its merits as a film, accurately depicting for the first half what a teenager looking to be accepted goes through. Every so called Geek or Nerd wants to be accepted by the hottest girl in school, and in this case Thomas almost had that. That part of the film is undeniably well written and well shot. It is the rest of the film that leaves a little to be desired. Some of things were way too over the top, like the flamethrower and the midget in the oven. All of that was just for the laughs, to get people to say something like “Holy Shit man, did you see what they did to that poor guy. Haha that’s so funny dude, imagine if we did that.” Cool, awesome job Project X, you succeeded in being the ultimate wet dream for those who never felt like they had any shoot at throwing a cool party.
Project X has some decent acting; the three leads try and bring amicable traits to their respective characters. Thomas and J.B are alright characters, but Costa was always just a little bit too much. His cocky, smart mouthed attitude to every single person just didn’t click with me. Thomas and J.B didn’t strike me as the type of people, on screen or not that would realistically hang out with someone as self-righteous and for lack of a better term “douchey” as Costa was.
Very much a film for people who enjoy the type of lifestyle displayed on the film. Yes, we have all been too a party, but this is not the type of thing most people would want to celebrate. I’m not entirely sure if the film was designed to be a comedy or a valuable lesson to be smart about how to party. There were some funny bits, but for me even seeing the destruction on film it didn’t overly strike me as something to be calling “badass” or “game changing”.
What Project X will end up being for too many people is the ultimate party film to define a generation that is known for throwing excessive extravagant parties, with too much booze, any kind of drug you could name, and enough scantily clad women too fill an entire house. Being a fan of film and the stories told through film, I guess I will never be able to say that Project X is anything but just another film I’ve seen. It could have been more, a valuable teaching tool, that shows the upbeat, insanely fun side of a party, but it could have also shown the dark dangerous repercussions of losing control of said party. Instead the writers of Project X decided to make the ending a positive one, which is a made for Hollywood type ending.
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Bona fide guilty pleasure
Posted : 12 years ago on 8 April 2012 10:13
Considering that Todd Phillips was responsible for both Old School and the successful Hangover movies, it's no wonder that his name is all over 2012's Project X. In a nutshell, this is a proverbial "found footage" slant on the standard high-school-party-gone-wrong premise blown up to epic proportions. Indeed, the words "out of control" severely undersell Project X, as it fast develops into every party fanatic's wildest dream and every parent's worst nightmare. Needless to say, the whole enterprise is irresponsible, mean-spirited and morally repugnant, but it's also mightily fun and satisfying. Project X is a bona fide guilty pleasure, though how much you enjoy it depends on your tolerance for this type of vulgar humour. Imagine if the photo slideshow at the end of The Hangover was translated into a movie - that's pretty much what you get here. If you're easily offended, stay clear. Everyone else, have at it.
The setup is pretty typical: three socially-insignificant high school seniors - Thomas (Mann), Costa (Cooper) and JB (Brown) - crave acceptance into the cool crowd, and realise that a game-changing party has the potential to do thus. On Thomas' 17th birthday, Costa encourages his companions to take advantage of the opportunity, especially since Thomas has the house to himself after his parents leave for the weekend. Hiring cameraman Dax (Flame) to film the event, the boys arrange a night of alcohol and drugs, promising countless potential guests a party to end all parties. While Thomas wants to keep things under control, Costa's mass marketing leads to an explosive shindig. As hundreds, potentially thousands of people show up, things fast get out of hand, drawing attention from both the media and the police.
For what's essentially just a brainless party movie, Project X is surprisingly relatable. Thomas is portrayed as an everyman, and he is our entry point into the narrative. The emotions and arcs he experiences (being reluctant to host the party, feeling anxious about the thought that maybe no-one will show up, feeling frightened that the party-related anarchy will lead to big trouble from his parents, and finally embracing the fun before ending up feeling lucky he survived) are easy to identify with, and one can put themselves in Thomas' shoes with ease. However, the script is marred by the inclusion of one of Thomas' childhood friends, Kirby (Blanton). They're established as plutonic pals, yet Thomas violates the friend zone and Kirby goes along with it, leading to an insufferably clichéd romantic subplot. It was visibly thrown in to add some heart, but the way it plays out (particularly with an absurd rekindling in the final scene) weakens the illusion of reality, reminding us that this is just a scripted movie.
At the very least, Project X is one hell of a hilarious ride for most of its runtime. From the serene party preparation scenes to the moments of insane partying which culminate with a street-bound riot involving police and a news helicopter, the humour seldom flags. It's exceedingly juvenile stuff of course, but my word, it works remarkably if this type of stuff appeals to you, especially the climax which continues to escalate in terms of both anarchy and hilarity.
All of this madness is filtered through the proverbial found footage aesthetic. On top of Dax the videographer filming the night's events, supplemental material is provided courtesy of various cell phones, news outlets and police cameras. Since extras were actually given leeway to do their own filming with Blackberries and iPhones, director Nima Nourizadeh had hours upon hours of genuine-feeling footage to dig through, evoking his instincts as a music video director to use as much as he could to create flashy montages illustrating all of the fun being experienced. However, at times the film does feel like a calculated movie with planned cinematography, microphones and conscious editing. Plus, the sound mix is far too polished; it sounds manufactured, not as if it was captured with the amateur filmmaking equipment that the picture was lensed with.
Project X has its faults, but this reviewer had a lot of fun with it. It's an entertaining celebration of youthful abandon; a time in your life when you're old enough to do anything you like, but before you're intelligent enough to realise you probably shouldn't do them. Even if a few moments stick out as being the product of a written movie, more often than not it sells the illusion of being a wild party filmed by its guests, and it captures the essence of a party atmosphere. Make no mistake, this is completely disposable entertainment which won't be remembered in a few months from now, but it possesses an engaging energy and an infectious sense of fun which hardly wanes. The best way to enjoy Project X is with a handful of mates and a few dozen beers.
6.8/10
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