The Movie: Office Space, directed by Mike Judge
Recommendation: Dee
Reason: I have seen Office Space before, but who wouldn't want to see it again?
There is a painful amount of truth in Office Space. Not about morality or legality or anything like that, but just in the treatment of the soul-deadening ways that an office job can break a person down. There are Miltons in this world, and there are pieces of flair. There are meaningless jobs and horrible management techniques and dear god there are Lumberghs everywhere. The plot of the movie is almost irrelevant, compared to the insight that Mike Judge demonstrates.
The plot is subdued and a little wacky. After a hypnosis accident, a peon at a software company shrugs off the shackles of his oppressive workplace and tries to break free with a stack of the company's money. It's office-monkey wish fulfillment. In between point A and point B though there are plenty of entertaining stops.
As a cult film. Office Space stands up, setting itself head and shoulders above the rest. It was mismanaged and badly marketed, leading to its being an utter flop (and Mike Judge refusing to do a sequel). Thank god for video and DVD sales.
-184/365 down, 181/365 to go
Showing posts with label comedy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label comedy. Show all posts
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Delving deep into the ancestry of Reno 911!
The Movie: Super Troopers, directed by Jay Chandrasekhar
Recommendation: Dee
Reason: She just really wanted to watch it, I suppose, and with Final Destination 2 dying off on us, that's what we did.
So, yeah, trilogy week didn't exactly go off without a hitch. Final Destination 2's disc was incredibly trashed. Instead, so the movie train could keep running, I watched Super Troopers, an old favorite. It's the most likely predecessor to Reno 911!, not that that makes either movie or the TV show inferior. They're both very funny.
From the freakout of the stoners to the multiple drunk and sober brawls, Super Troopers was as fun as always. It's Broken Lizard's initial effort, preceding Club Dread and Beerfest, and I think it's probably the best (based entirely on hearsay, of course). It was a little clunky, but still funny.
-170/365 down, 195/365 to go
Recommendation: Dee
Reason: She just really wanted to watch it, I suppose, and with Final Destination 2 dying off on us, that's what we did.
So, yeah, trilogy week didn't exactly go off without a hitch. Final Destination 2's disc was incredibly trashed. Instead, so the movie train could keep running, I watched Super Troopers, an old favorite. It's the most likely predecessor to Reno 911!, not that that makes either movie or the TV show inferior. They're both very funny.
From the freakout of the stoners to the multiple drunk and sober brawls, Super Troopers was as fun as always. It's Broken Lizard's initial effort, preceding Club Dread and Beerfest, and I think it's probably the best (based entirely on hearsay, of course). It was a little clunky, but still funny.
-170/365 down, 195/365 to go
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Parody, done right.
The Movie: Hot Fuzz, directed by Edgar Wright
Recommendation: Me!
Reason: I love Shaun of the Dead, the earlier effort from these guys.
In Shaun of the Dead, Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright created a movie packed with references to the zombie movies that had come before. Everything about the film was influenced by its predecessors. In Hot Fuzz, they did it again. With their trademark quick-cuts and the sort of speedy humor that you seem to only get in British film, they carried off the action genre with aplomb.
Every cliche is intentional. Viewers familiar with these guys will probably agree with that statement. Every reference you thought you caught really was a reference, from Romeo + Juliet to Point Break (though that one's pretty blatant). There's even the expected John Woo joke.
I really enjoyed this movie. Everyone should see it. These guys are a sly sort of funny, and always entertaining. I'm really looking forward to whatever they're up to next.
-165/365 down, 200/365 to go
Recommendation: Me!
Reason: I love Shaun of the Dead, the earlier effort from these guys.
In Shaun of the Dead, Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright created a movie packed with references to the zombie movies that had come before. Everything about the film was influenced by its predecessors. In Hot Fuzz, they did it again. With their trademark quick-cuts and the sort of speedy humor that you seem to only get in British film, they carried off the action genre with aplomb.
Every cliche is intentional. Viewers familiar with these guys will probably agree with that statement. Every reference you thought you caught really was a reference, from Romeo + Juliet to Point Break (though that one's pretty blatant). There's even the expected John Woo joke.
I really enjoyed this movie. Everyone should see it. These guys are a sly sort of funny, and always entertaining. I'm really looking forward to whatever they're up to next.
-165/365 down, 200/365 to go
Sunday, August 5, 2007
It's better if you imagine that it's Rex Manning day, and you have to watch his movie.
The Movie: Grease 2, directed by Patricia Birch
Recommendation: H
Reason: I'm not really sure, aside from possibly thinking I hadn't already seen it. Yes, that's right. I've sat through Grease 2 twice.
Hollywood wisdom states that sequels are rarely as good as the original. We don't need to retread that ground, except to say that Grease 2 is the best argument I've ever see for that rule. It does everything wrong that a sequel can do. Most of the original cast, aside from a few sad hangers-on, are gone. The story is exactly the same. Tenuous attempts to connect it to the original come off as stupid (why does Sandi, the AUSTRALIAN GIRL have a cousin from ENGLAND? Could it be that they want another character with an accent?). Multiple attempts were made to recreate scenes from the original movie, instead of setting the sequel apart in any way. Oh, and the director of the second movie is the choreographer from the first one.
Michelle Pfeiffer is unconvincing as the greaser-hanger-on Stephanie. Maxwell Caulfield is probably the best casting decision in the movie, and he still sucks. He's the only thing that makes the movie remotely okay (see the title for the reason, and if you still don't get it, watch Empire Records). The guys playing the T-Birds are...just unbelievable as straight guys. The cameos by characters from the original movie come off as desperate and pathetic-Frenchy and the leader of the Scorpions? Seriously?
I don't want to really get into the singing, the acting, the plot, the shooting, the editing...the only solid part of the movie was, you guessed it, the dancing! The dance sequences were well choreographed, sweeping and ultimately horribly shot and edited. Though they were well done, they were confusing and disruptive to the flow of the film. What a shock.
-160/365 down, 205/365 to go.
Recommendation: H
Reason: I'm not really sure, aside from possibly thinking I hadn't already seen it. Yes, that's right. I've sat through Grease 2 twice.
Hollywood wisdom states that sequels are rarely as good as the original. We don't need to retread that ground, except to say that Grease 2 is the best argument I've ever see for that rule. It does everything wrong that a sequel can do. Most of the original cast, aside from a few sad hangers-on, are gone. The story is exactly the same. Tenuous attempts to connect it to the original come off as stupid (why does Sandi, the AUSTRALIAN GIRL have a cousin from ENGLAND? Could it be that they want another character with an accent?). Multiple attempts were made to recreate scenes from the original movie, instead of setting the sequel apart in any way. Oh, and the director of the second movie is the choreographer from the first one.
Michelle Pfeiffer is unconvincing as the greaser-hanger-on Stephanie. Maxwell Caulfield is probably the best casting decision in the movie, and he still sucks. He's the only thing that makes the movie remotely okay (see the title for the reason, and if you still don't get it, watch Empire Records). The guys playing the T-Birds are...just unbelievable as straight guys. The cameos by characters from the original movie come off as desperate and pathetic-Frenchy and the leader of the Scorpions? Seriously?
I don't want to really get into the singing, the acting, the plot, the shooting, the editing...the only solid part of the movie was, you guessed it, the dancing! The dance sequences were well choreographed, sweeping and ultimately horribly shot and edited. Though they were well done, they were confusing and disruptive to the flow of the film. What a shock.
-160/365 down, 205/365 to go.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Puppies turn into dogs that get old and die.
The Movie: Josie and the Pussycats, directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont
Recommendation: Me
Reason: Cause it's one of my favorite movies of all time, and one of the few that I really would watch anytime.
For some damnable reason, people insist on saying this is a bad movie. Their reasons range from shallow characters to bad acting to the rather overwhelming product placement, and I really could go on. I'm not going to write a specific rebuttal to any particular critique, just a sort of general love letter to the movie. Josie and the Pussycats is cheerfully wicked, taking sly shots at the MTV generation, the recording industry and MTV itself. From in-jokes about bandmembers (nobody likes the bassist) to a shamelessly shattered fourth wall ("I'm here because I was in the comics"), Josie and the Pussycats is a refreshingly self-aware musical comedy.
More than anything else in this movie, I appreciate Rachael Leigh Cook's Josie. Everyone else is good, but she really takes it away. It's the little things, the looks, the raised eyebrows, the delivery of her lines (see the title for my personal favorite). She's personable, she's cute, she's a good girl with a good heart and Cook brings that all out in her performance. I'd argue that the two dimensional characters that she and her costars create are necessarily so-the source material isn't particularily deep, so why would the film carry that expectation?
As Valerie, Rosario Dawson reminded everyone that she existed. That can never be a bad thing, ever. Her characterization is probably the deepest of the three-she gives Valerie a story and a backbone, without leaving the bonds of the role she's expected to play in the plot. Tara Reid is at her most tolerable here as Melody the sweet dunderhead. Without any heavy expectations set on her, like 'acting' or 'staying sober', she turned in a bubbly, cheerful performance.
The costumes, the set dressing, the product placement! Logos EVERYWHERE! There are mascots in the end credits, and everything anyone touches, holds, walks on, walks past...you get the idea, this movie is SATURATED with corporate miscellania. That manic devotion to the emblems of consumerism has a purpose (and was entirely done of the director's own volition. Nobody paid for commercial consideration in this film). There's an obvious difference between dull little Riverdale and the glitz, glamor and orange of 'the big city'. When Valerie, Melody and Josie are housed in a corporate-overridden hotel, those ads take on an interesting new meaning. Josie, destined later in the film to briefly become a superficial bitch, is surrounded by makeup ads from Revlon. Melody, a silly little pop-tart, gets the nutritionally questionable McDonalds ads. Valerie is lodged with Target, an allusion to her future as the primary problem for the movie's antagonists.
And speak of the devils. Wyatt Frame and Fiona. Could you get a more pathetic pair of silly little losers? Alan Cumming lays into his role as Wyatt with abandon, chewing up the scenery left right and center. He just looks so greasy and evil, and his tone is so wonderfully villainous. Nevermind getting some of the better lines in the film ("Put the chevy to the levy"). Much as I hate Parker Posey (and I do. A lot), she's good as Fiona. She, Alexander and Alexandra are the weakest points of the film, but they're just a little less four-color than the rest of the gang. That's sort of the point here. This movie isn't about real people. It's not even about fake people. It's a comic book, alive on screen, and an Archie one at that. This isn't Catwoman, slashing wholesale at a comic that wasn't that good to start. This is Josie and the Pussycats, an Archie comic about a band that solves mysteries.
The music was written and performed by some talented musicians. Kay Hanley, lead singer of Letters to Cleo, took on the role of Josie's voice, and Adam Duritz, Babyface and Adam Schlesinger contributed to the songwriting process. Their work resulted in catchy songs, not only from Josie and the Pussycats, but from DuJour, the parody-heavy boyband that shows up early in the film (C'mon people, 'Backdoor Lover' was comedy gold).
At the end of all of this humongous volume, all I can say is that this really isn't the awful movie people make it out to be. I love it, you could even say I'm passionate about it. It's sweet, funny, cheery and it doesn't require a PhD in anything to understand the point-it's stated outright, actually, for those who are having trouble keeping up. So that's my piece. I hope I might've encouraged one or two of you to give Josie another chance.
-155/365 down, 210/365 to go
Recommendation: Me
Reason: Cause it's one of my favorite movies of all time, and one of the few that I really would watch anytime.
For some damnable reason, people insist on saying this is a bad movie. Their reasons range from shallow characters to bad acting to the rather overwhelming product placement, and I really could go on. I'm not going to write a specific rebuttal to any particular critique, just a sort of general love letter to the movie. Josie and the Pussycats is cheerfully wicked, taking sly shots at the MTV generation, the recording industry and MTV itself. From in-jokes about bandmembers (nobody likes the bassist) to a shamelessly shattered fourth wall ("I'm here because I was in the comics"), Josie and the Pussycats is a refreshingly self-aware musical comedy.
More than anything else in this movie, I appreciate Rachael Leigh Cook's Josie. Everyone else is good, but she really takes it away. It's the little things, the looks, the raised eyebrows, the delivery of her lines (see the title for my personal favorite). She's personable, she's cute, she's a good girl with a good heart and Cook brings that all out in her performance. I'd argue that the two dimensional characters that she and her costars create are necessarily so-the source material isn't particularily deep, so why would the film carry that expectation?
As Valerie, Rosario Dawson reminded everyone that she existed. That can never be a bad thing, ever. Her characterization is probably the deepest of the three-she gives Valerie a story and a backbone, without leaving the bonds of the role she's expected to play in the plot. Tara Reid is at her most tolerable here as Melody the sweet dunderhead. Without any heavy expectations set on her, like 'acting' or 'staying sober', she turned in a bubbly, cheerful performance.
The costumes, the set dressing, the product placement! Logos EVERYWHERE! There are mascots in the end credits, and everything anyone touches, holds, walks on, walks past...you get the idea, this movie is SATURATED with corporate miscellania. That manic devotion to the emblems of consumerism has a purpose (and was entirely done of the director's own volition. Nobody paid for commercial consideration in this film). There's an obvious difference between dull little Riverdale and the glitz, glamor and orange of 'the big city'. When Valerie, Melody and Josie are housed in a corporate-overridden hotel, those ads take on an interesting new meaning. Josie, destined later in the film to briefly become a superficial bitch, is surrounded by makeup ads from Revlon. Melody, a silly little pop-tart, gets the nutritionally questionable McDonalds ads. Valerie is lodged with Target, an allusion to her future as the primary problem for the movie's antagonists.
And speak of the devils. Wyatt Frame and Fiona. Could you get a more pathetic pair of silly little losers? Alan Cumming lays into his role as Wyatt with abandon, chewing up the scenery left right and center. He just looks so greasy and evil, and his tone is so wonderfully villainous. Nevermind getting some of the better lines in the film ("Put the chevy to the levy"). Much as I hate Parker Posey (and I do. A lot), she's good as Fiona. She, Alexander and Alexandra are the weakest points of the film, but they're just a little less four-color than the rest of the gang. That's sort of the point here. This movie isn't about real people. It's not even about fake people. It's a comic book, alive on screen, and an Archie one at that. This isn't Catwoman, slashing wholesale at a comic that wasn't that good to start. This is Josie and the Pussycats, an Archie comic about a band that solves mysteries.
The music was written and performed by some talented musicians. Kay Hanley, lead singer of Letters to Cleo, took on the role of Josie's voice, and Adam Duritz, Babyface and Adam Schlesinger contributed to the songwriting process. Their work resulted in catchy songs, not only from Josie and the Pussycats, but from DuJour, the parody-heavy boyband that shows up early in the film (C'mon people, 'Backdoor Lover' was comedy gold).
At the end of all of this humongous volume, all I can say is that this really isn't the awful movie people make it out to be. I love it, you could even say I'm passionate about it. It's sweet, funny, cheery and it doesn't require a PhD in anything to understand the point-it's stated outright, actually, for those who are having trouble keeping up. So that's my piece. I hope I might've encouraged one or two of you to give Josie another chance.
-155/365 down, 210/365 to go
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Dude. Sweet. Shibby. Learn it, love it.
The Movie: Dude, Where's My Car?, directed by Danny Leiner
Recommendation: Me!
Reason: It's been awhile.
There are subgenres of comedy, and not everyone appreciates every subgenre. Black comedies are not written for people who only like screwball comedies, and slapstick routines are not usually intended for highbrow viewers. Dude, Where's My Car? is a strange sort of fantasy-comedy, but it's mainly screwball. The ridiculousness of the movie is continually amped up to go for bigger and bigger laughs.
Something about Dude, Where's My Car? keeps it funny, even though parts of it have aged a little. For instance, I don't think anyone's as fazed by cell phones now as they were then. I think I'd feel confident saying that the chemistry between Seann William Scott and Ashton Kutcher (when he was still entertaining) is the main source of the funny. They worked really well together here.
I like this movie. Not everything needs to be a high art, high tension masterpiece. Sometimes a dumbass comedy is a great source of stress relief. Dude, Where's My Car? isn't the best funny movie out there, but it's one of my favorites.
-148/365 down, 217/365 to go
Recommendation: Me!
Reason: It's been awhile.
There are subgenres of comedy, and not everyone appreciates every subgenre. Black comedies are not written for people who only like screwball comedies, and slapstick routines are not usually intended for highbrow viewers. Dude, Where's My Car? is a strange sort of fantasy-comedy, but it's mainly screwball. The ridiculousness of the movie is continually amped up to go for bigger and bigger laughs.
Something about Dude, Where's My Car? keeps it funny, even though parts of it have aged a little. For instance, I don't think anyone's as fazed by cell phones now as they were then. I think I'd feel confident saying that the chemistry between Seann William Scott and Ashton Kutcher (when he was still entertaining) is the main source of the funny. They worked really well together here.
I like this movie. Not everything needs to be a high art, high tension masterpiece. Sometimes a dumbass comedy is a great source of stress relief. Dude, Where's My Car? isn't the best funny movie out there, but it's one of my favorites.
-148/365 down, 217/365 to go
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
I want to major in Skepticism.
The Movie: Accepted, directed by Steve Pink
Recommendation: Dee
Reason: I admit it. I like those Mac vs. PC ads, and we both have wanted to watch Accepted since it was first advertised.
So, Justin Long's actually pretty funny, and I'm looking forward to seeing him in Live Free or Die Hard. I'm sure it'll be a tour de force. In Accepted he was quite good, entertaining without being too stupid. It was a good thing he was involved actually, since his supporting cast was a little weak.
The story of the film definitely stretches credibility-losers start their own college in an old mental institute. It's a fun premise though, and if you can get past the ludicrousness, it's an enjoyable movie. I just sat back and enjoyed the 'school' as it was presented. Who wouldn't go to a class that was essentially a bitter old man ranting and raving about whatever came to mind? I know some of the more entertaining lectures I ever attended were exactly that. I learned a lot from them too.
Not a lot of innovation in this movie, though it felt very personal. The writing really brought that perspective forward and developed some empathy for the main characters. Their situations were described in quick broad strokes, then they were allowed to develop from there. I was, at the very least, entertained.
-142/265 down, 223/365 to go
Recommendation: Dee
Reason: I admit it. I like those Mac vs. PC ads, and we both have wanted to watch Accepted since it was first advertised.
So, Justin Long's actually pretty funny, and I'm looking forward to seeing him in Live Free or Die Hard. I'm sure it'll be a tour de force. In Accepted he was quite good, entertaining without being too stupid. It was a good thing he was involved actually, since his supporting cast was a little weak.
The story of the film definitely stretches credibility-losers start their own college in an old mental institute. It's a fun premise though, and if you can get past the ludicrousness, it's an enjoyable movie. I just sat back and enjoyed the 'school' as it was presented. Who wouldn't go to a class that was essentially a bitter old man ranting and raving about whatever came to mind? I know some of the more entertaining lectures I ever attended were exactly that. I learned a lot from them too.
Not a lot of innovation in this movie, though it felt very personal. The writing really brought that perspective forward and developed some empathy for the main characters. Their situations were described in quick broad strokes, then they were allowed to develop from there. I was, at the very least, entertained.
-142/265 down, 223/365 to go
Monday, July 2, 2007
Is there any way we can make the movie go faster?
The Movie: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, directed by Adam Mackay.
Recommendation: Dee
Reason: "It's another quotably funny Will Ferrell movie!"
I'm starting to wish that more movies came out that weren't quotable. Movies that just left you with a sort of 'wink and nod if you've seen it' crowd. I have no idea if that's even possible, so instead Will Ferrell gets another greenlight. Talladega Nights comes from a lot of the same people as Anchorman, which was possibly the highlight of Ferrell's career so far. This take on Nascar and racing movies in general was alright, though the pacing was absolutely awful.
Will Ferrell has range and depth, he just chooses not to use it. While he managed to create a full-bodied but still ridiculous character in Anchorman, he does no such thing here. Ricky Bobby's his usual idiot-squared, propped up by sidekicks who are barely more competent than himself. The character's absurdity just doesn't balance as well as his previous creations have.
This movie could have been a lot tighter. It abruptly stopped being remotely engaging during the repeated 'you can do it' speeches, started by the Nicole-Kidman-in-Days-of-Thunder imitator. Though I was mildly entertained until that point, chemical intervention would have been necessary to elevate the remainder of the movie from the pit it fell into.
-137/365 down, 228/365 to go
Recommendation: Dee
Reason: "It's another quotably funny Will Ferrell movie!"
I'm starting to wish that more movies came out that weren't quotable. Movies that just left you with a sort of 'wink and nod if you've seen it' crowd. I have no idea if that's even possible, so instead Will Ferrell gets another greenlight. Talladega Nights comes from a lot of the same people as Anchorman, which was possibly the highlight of Ferrell's career so far. This take on Nascar and racing movies in general was alright, though the pacing was absolutely awful.
Will Ferrell has range and depth, he just chooses not to use it. While he managed to create a full-bodied but still ridiculous character in Anchorman, he does no such thing here. Ricky Bobby's his usual idiot-squared, propped up by sidekicks who are barely more competent than himself. The character's absurdity just doesn't balance as well as his previous creations have.
This movie could have been a lot tighter. It abruptly stopped being remotely engaging during the repeated 'you can do it' speeches, started by the Nicole-Kidman-in-Days-of-Thunder imitator. Though I was mildly entertained until that point, chemical intervention would have been necessary to elevate the remainder of the movie from the pit it fell into.
-137/365 down, 228/365 to go
Sunday, June 10, 2007
The most anticipated dance of all.
The Movie: Little Miss Sunshine, directed by Jonathon Dayton and Valerie Faris
Recommendation: Von Gauzen
Reason: She said it was a weird sort of quirky movie.
I'm hit and miss with independant film. I can't really help it-I've seen some really good work from indie filmmakers, and I've sat through some really bad stuff. I was leery about Little Miss Sunshine, despite everything I'd heard about it. It took me two tries to watch this movie (no fault of the film, entirely me).
I'm glad I made the effort. Little Miss Sunshine's a surprisingly deep, effective movie. The characters are not only well played, they're well thought-out. They have substance, and a good part of that is the acting. The whole core cast was excellent, turning out some nuanced and well done parts. Steve Carrell caught some people off guard by not being hilariously funny in this movie, but he was really, really good. I don't know if I can really pinpoint a particularily awesome performance, though the most emotional part of the movie for me was entirely the responsibility of Paul Dano, playing Dwayne.
This movie wasn't only funny, it was sweet, eccentric and really fun to watch. The ending was very satisfying, in a way few movies manage to be. I actually felt enriched by the experience of watching.
-130/365 down, 235/365 to go
Recommendation: Von Gauzen
Reason: She said it was a weird sort of quirky movie.
I'm hit and miss with independant film. I can't really help it-I've seen some really good work from indie filmmakers, and I've sat through some really bad stuff. I was leery about Little Miss Sunshine, despite everything I'd heard about it. It took me two tries to watch this movie (no fault of the film, entirely me).
I'm glad I made the effort. Little Miss Sunshine's a surprisingly deep, effective movie. The characters are not only well played, they're well thought-out. They have substance, and a good part of that is the acting. The whole core cast was excellent, turning out some nuanced and well done parts. Steve Carrell caught some people off guard by not being hilariously funny in this movie, but he was really, really good. I don't know if I can really pinpoint a particularily awesome performance, though the most emotional part of the movie for me was entirely the responsibility of Paul Dano, playing Dwayne.
This movie wasn't only funny, it was sweet, eccentric and really fun to watch. The ending was very satisfying, in a way few movies manage to be. I actually felt enriched by the experience of watching.
-130/365 down, 235/365 to go
Who's carrying the swag?
The Movie: Ocean's Thirteen, directed by Stephen Soderberg
Recommendation: Nobody, are you joking?
Reason: Continuing in the fun tradition of the first two, I'd heard that Ocean's Thirteen was expected to be pretty good.
I like the Ocean's movies because I like the chemistry between George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The smooth ease with which they played the first movie guarantees that my butt's going to be in the seats whenever the next installment comes out. These movies aren't easy to make, either-eleven moderate to high profile stars have to be snagged from other potential projects and popped up on screen in a movie that's clever without slipping into pretentiousness, and funny without getting stupid. It's always and accomplishment, and it's a joy to watch.
The sequels have had big shoes to fill. Ocean's Eleven was almost seamless, a slick, stylishly smooth piece that hit the screen with panache. It's one of my favorite movies. The second movie wobbled, but hit enough right notes that it wasn't bad, and so the third was in a precarious position. Instead of plummeting from the leave-off of the second, it rose. I was glad to see that. Despite some early issues with pace and setup, the second act through the climax went nicely. The actors hit their stride, the jokes started to flow and it seemed that not a single part went forgotten. There were some 'blink and you'll miss them' cameos and unfortunately Julia Roberts couldn't participate in the mayhem (God, never thought I'd regret her absence).
The movie was good-it sold popcorn without being too heavy. It was fun, light and summery, and I won't be ashamed to say I enjoyed it. I laughed, I looked back nostalgically on the first two movies, and I was glad I stuck with the series. I don't know if a fourth is merited-the cleverness could fade. For now, it's still good.
-129/365 down, 236/365 to go
Recommendation: Nobody, are you joking?
Reason: Continuing in the fun tradition of the first two, I'd heard that Ocean's Thirteen was expected to be pretty good.
I like the Ocean's movies because I like the chemistry between George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The smooth ease with which they played the first movie guarantees that my butt's going to be in the seats whenever the next installment comes out. These movies aren't easy to make, either-eleven moderate to high profile stars have to be snagged from other potential projects and popped up on screen in a movie that's clever without slipping into pretentiousness, and funny without getting stupid. It's always and accomplishment, and it's a joy to watch.
The sequels have had big shoes to fill. Ocean's Eleven was almost seamless, a slick, stylishly smooth piece that hit the screen with panache. It's one of my favorite movies. The second movie wobbled, but hit enough right notes that it wasn't bad, and so the third was in a precarious position. Instead of plummeting from the leave-off of the second, it rose. I was glad to see that. Despite some early issues with pace and setup, the second act through the climax went nicely. The actors hit their stride, the jokes started to flow and it seemed that not a single part went forgotten. There were some 'blink and you'll miss them' cameos and unfortunately Julia Roberts couldn't participate in the mayhem (God, never thought I'd regret her absence).
The movie was good-it sold popcorn without being too heavy. It was fun, light and summery, and I won't be ashamed to say I enjoyed it. I laughed, I looked back nostalgically on the first two movies, and I was glad I stuck with the series. I don't know if a fourth is merited-the cleverness could fade. For now, it's still good.
-129/365 down, 236/365 to go
Monday, June 4, 2007
Baste, dammit!
The Movie: Pieces of April, directed by Peter Hedges
Recommendation: "Kate"
Reason: I pulled this off of the "Kate's Picks" wall at Blockbuster. Hey, it counts!
This movie made me cry. Yeah yeah, me, the big toughie horror movie fan. I'd blame it on hormones, but Pieces of April really deserves the credit. Combining excellent acting by Katie Holmes and Patricia Clarkson (who was brave enough to play a very unpleasant and unsympathetic cancer patient! Go Patricia!), a simple and funny script and a very organic method of filmmaking, it managed to hit the mark.
Pieces of April is billed as a comedy, which I suppose is closest to the truth. It's hard to go to a movie store and pick out movies sometimes, because I don't know that I would have picked this up if it was in amongst its fellow 'comedies'. This movie just seems like it's more than the others it would have been slotted in with.
It was funny. It was sweet. It featured a bitter, snarky, self-centered, family-destroying cancer patient who seemed so real it was painful. It was a good movie, and nobody's telling me otherwise.
-128/365 down, 237/365 to go
Recommendation: "Kate"
Reason: I pulled this off of the "Kate's Picks" wall at Blockbuster. Hey, it counts!
This movie made me cry. Yeah yeah, me, the big toughie horror movie fan. I'd blame it on hormones, but Pieces of April really deserves the credit. Combining excellent acting by Katie Holmes and Patricia Clarkson (who was brave enough to play a very unpleasant and unsympathetic cancer patient! Go Patricia!), a simple and funny script and a very organic method of filmmaking, it managed to hit the mark.
Pieces of April is billed as a comedy, which I suppose is closest to the truth. It's hard to go to a movie store and pick out movies sometimes, because I don't know that I would have picked this up if it was in amongst its fellow 'comedies'. This movie just seems like it's more than the others it would have been slotted in with.
It was funny. It was sweet. It featured a bitter, snarky, self-centered, family-destroying cancer patient who seemed so real it was painful. It was a good movie, and nobody's telling me otherwise.
-128/365 down, 237/365 to go
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Yeeeeeeeeeeehaw!
The Movie: The Dukes of Hazzard, directed by Jay Chandrasekhar
Recommendation: Nobody.
Reason: I had to pick a movie, and it was this or The Da Vinci Code. See my previous statements regarding Tom Hanks as to why Dukes won.
I didn't watch Dukes of Hazzard when it was on TV. It's really not my kind of show, never has been, never will be I think. So it wasn't nostalgia that drove me to choose this movie, it's Seann William Scott. That's right, I confess. I have a stupid streak, and it's picked Mr. Dude Where's My Car? as its funnyman. The rest of the cast was...not that interesting, but I was at least entertained by Bo Duke.
The car stunts were excellent, in my humble opinion. At the very least the General Lee's careening around backwoods Georgia was more interesting than 2 Fast 2 Furious. There were some fun looking explosions, a lot of airborne Chargers, and the spectacular crash sequences that were played at the end of the movie made it even more entertaining.
There's no substance to this movie, though. Like, nothing. The characters don't bring any particular subtext, there's nothing more than what's on the screen. I suppose I was happy to see the Broken Lizard guys have another shot at the world of filmmaking.
-125/365 down, 240/365 to go
Recommendation: Nobody.
Reason: I had to pick a movie, and it was this or The Da Vinci Code. See my previous statements regarding Tom Hanks as to why Dukes won.
I didn't watch Dukes of Hazzard when it was on TV. It's really not my kind of show, never has been, never will be I think. So it wasn't nostalgia that drove me to choose this movie, it's Seann William Scott. That's right, I confess. I have a stupid streak, and it's picked Mr. Dude Where's My Car? as its funnyman. The rest of the cast was...not that interesting, but I was at least entertained by Bo Duke.
The car stunts were excellent, in my humble opinion. At the very least the General Lee's careening around backwoods Georgia was more interesting than 2 Fast 2 Furious. There were some fun looking explosions, a lot of airborne Chargers, and the spectacular crash sequences that were played at the end of the movie made it even more entertaining.
There's no substance to this movie, though. Like, nothing. The characters don't bring any particular subtext, there's nothing more than what's on the screen. I suppose I was happy to see the Broken Lizard guys have another shot at the world of filmmaking.
-125/365 down, 240/365 to go
Thursday, May 31, 2007
He could've been a contender.
The Movie: Man of the Year, directed by Barry Levinson
Recommendation: Broomie.
Reason: Broomie had heard that this movie was really funny. We think he was hallucinating again.
Man of the Year sprouts from a popular 'what if' story. What if Bill Maher ran for president? Or Jon Stewart? Or Stephen Colbert? Would they win? Would anyone even vote for them? Gosh that sounds like it would have been a funny movie. Too bad Man of the Year just didn't hit the mark. When it tried to be funny, it wasn't funny enough. When it tried to be thrilling, everyone wondered what the hell happened to the funny. When it went for drama, people thought the funny had come back. The thing was a train wreck, and why? MARKETING.
This movie was marketed as a comedy. Not just any comedy, but a screwball comedy. Like so many other movies that have been sold as something they aren't, Man of the Year was betrayed by the people who were selling it. People went in expecting Jon Stewart-esque sarcasm and soundbites, Bill Maher rants, Stephen Colbert blind patriotism. Man of the Year was none of those things. While it had its solid points, none of them were what the audience was expecting.
And as much as I hate to say this...Robin Williams needs to take a break. He seems to be doing two to four movies a year, with only one or two of them being any good. In fact I'm pretty sure the last time I was really impressed was him was in 2002's Insomnia. I just think he's somehow losing his touch with movies. Maybe he's just looking for a new angle, I'm not sure. I'll keep my fingers crossed for him, I guess.
-122/365 down, 243/265 to go
Recommendation: Broomie.
Reason: Broomie had heard that this movie was really funny. We think he was hallucinating again.
Man of the Year sprouts from a popular 'what if' story. What if Bill Maher ran for president? Or Jon Stewart? Or Stephen Colbert? Would they win? Would anyone even vote for them? Gosh that sounds like it would have been a funny movie. Too bad Man of the Year just didn't hit the mark. When it tried to be funny, it wasn't funny enough. When it tried to be thrilling, everyone wondered what the hell happened to the funny. When it went for drama, people thought the funny had come back. The thing was a train wreck, and why? MARKETING.
This movie was marketed as a comedy. Not just any comedy, but a screwball comedy. Like so many other movies that have been sold as something they aren't, Man of the Year was betrayed by the people who were selling it. People went in expecting Jon Stewart-esque sarcasm and soundbites, Bill Maher rants, Stephen Colbert blind patriotism. Man of the Year was none of those things. While it had its solid points, none of them were what the audience was expecting.
And as much as I hate to say this...Robin Williams needs to take a break. He seems to be doing two to four movies a year, with only one or two of them being any good. In fact I'm pretty sure the last time I was really impressed was him was in 2002's Insomnia. I just think he's somehow losing his touch with movies. Maybe he's just looking for a new angle, I'm not sure. I'll keep my fingers crossed for him, I guess.
-122/365 down, 243/265 to go
Sunday, May 13, 2007
I could've watched My Fair Lady.
The Movie: Employee of the Month, directed by Greg Coolidge
Recommendation: Dee
Reason: "I want to see a Dane Cook movie!"
Next time she wants to see a Dane Cook movie, we're watching Waiting again. At least Ryan Reynolds is funny sometimes. The combination of incredibly unfunny people in Employee of the Month utterly crippled what was promising to be a boring semi-comedy at best. Sure, at the beginning there were a few laughs, but they were predictable and not really big moments of hilarity.
Casting really pared away at the appeal of this movie. Jessica Simpson is...utterly vapid and completely pointless. I'm certain that a Realdoll could have turned in an equivalent performance, given how irrelevant her ability to speak seemed to be to the plot. Dane Cook was an incapable lead, unable to make his character convincing, or hit the comic timing necessary to at least make the guy funny. Andy Dick hasn't been funny since Newsradio, except as a punchline. Dax Shepherd was boring, and Efren Ramirez reminded me of Napoleon Dynamite, which made me want to repeatedly stab him.
What was left to be entertaining was quietly smothered by an awful script and very PG 'antics'. Screwball comedy needs to be let off the leash, or else it easily crosses from funny to boring as hell. Employee of the Month didn't see the line, and after it crossed, it didn't look back.
-110/365 down, 255/365 to go
Recommendation: Dee
Reason: "I want to see a Dane Cook movie!"
Next time she wants to see a Dane Cook movie, we're watching Waiting again. At least Ryan Reynolds is funny sometimes. The combination of incredibly unfunny people in Employee of the Month utterly crippled what was promising to be a boring semi-comedy at best. Sure, at the beginning there were a few laughs, but they were predictable and not really big moments of hilarity.
Casting really pared away at the appeal of this movie. Jessica Simpson is...utterly vapid and completely pointless. I'm certain that a Realdoll could have turned in an equivalent performance, given how irrelevant her ability to speak seemed to be to the plot. Dane Cook was an incapable lead, unable to make his character convincing, or hit the comic timing necessary to at least make the guy funny. Andy Dick hasn't been funny since Newsradio, except as a punchline. Dax Shepherd was boring, and Efren Ramirez reminded me of Napoleon Dynamite, which made me want to repeatedly stab him.
What was left to be entertaining was quietly smothered by an awful script and very PG 'antics'. Screwball comedy needs to be let off the leash, or else it easily crosses from funny to boring as hell. Employee of the Month didn't see the line, and after it crossed, it didn't look back.
-110/365 down, 255/365 to go
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Dispatch from Canuckistan
The Movie: Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, directed by Larry Charles
Recommendation: No one. So, me!
Reason: I saw Jon Stewart's report on Borat's press conference to promote the movie. I was intrigued.
People from foreign parts are a little odd. That's sort of how most people in Canada and the US think. I'm sure it's the same everywhere. We chat about little foibles and interesting tidbits we've learned about our neighbors and friends around the world, and we hopefully learn about their culture. Some people are xenophobic, scared and angry at the 'foreigners'. And some...some are just easily duped by anyone who seems guileless and has a funny accent. Borat's a movie about all of those people.
I think the best word to describe the film is subversive. It's got blatant shock value (Oh god the wrestling scene is going to haunt me forever), it's got some absurdly anti-semitic, sexist and racist humor, and as you're watching it's hard not to think 'should I be laughing here?'. If you can get past whatever issue you might have with some of the content, I think Sacha Baron Cohen's character has some very enlightening experiences to share. How far can he push people? What can he get them to say or do, just because of what he says he is? It's a little scary, and it's also a bit gonzo.
When it comes down to it, the movie was funny. It's even funny when you stop to think about some of the things Borat and the people around him are saying and doing. And when you consider how hard Sacha Baron Cohen had to work to remain in character and on-game during some of those scenes...this is a worthwhile movie to watch. Just be prepared for the gross stuff.
-105/365 down, 260/365 to go
Recommendation: No one. So, me!
Reason: I saw Jon Stewart's report on Borat's press conference to promote the movie. I was intrigued.
People from foreign parts are a little odd. That's sort of how most people in Canada and the US think. I'm sure it's the same everywhere. We chat about little foibles and interesting tidbits we've learned about our neighbors and friends around the world, and we hopefully learn about their culture. Some people are xenophobic, scared and angry at the 'foreigners'. And some...some are just easily duped by anyone who seems guileless and has a funny accent. Borat's a movie about all of those people.
I think the best word to describe the film is subversive. It's got blatant shock value (Oh god the wrestling scene is going to haunt me forever), it's got some absurdly anti-semitic, sexist and racist humor, and as you're watching it's hard not to think 'should I be laughing here?'. If you can get past whatever issue you might have with some of the content, I think Sacha Baron Cohen's character has some very enlightening experiences to share. How far can he push people? What can he get them to say or do, just because of what he says he is? It's a little scary, and it's also a bit gonzo.
When it comes down to it, the movie was funny. It's even funny when you stop to think about some of the things Borat and the people around him are saying and doing. And when you consider how hard Sacha Baron Cohen had to work to remain in character and on-game during some of those scenes...this is a worthwhile movie to watch. Just be prepared for the gross stuff.
-105/365 down, 260/365 to go
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Iconic
The Movie: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, directed by Howard Hawks
Recommendation: Me.
Reason: I have never seen a Marilyn Monroe movie.
I think your first Marilyn Monroe movie's some sort of landmark. I've seen parodies, I've seen homages, I've seen (for all intents and purposes) remakes, but next to the real thing, they pale in comparison. Nicole Kidman and Madonna (the first who spring to mind) can't quite compare to the screen presence of Monroe. Hype aside, I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Something about her dippy delivery, her wide blue eyes, that cute blonde hair was so magnetic it was hard to even acknowledge her costars.
I think hype definitely has influenced my watching decisions. At the moment, I'm clicking through my Ziplist to try to pick out a few more of Marilyn Monroe's classics. Nothing wrong with seeing those, of course. She was a talented actress and definitely not hard to look at. A real treat to watch and hear.
Diefied bombshells aside, the movie was sweet and funny. It was simple, it did what it had to do, there was singing, there was dancing, there were iconic moments that have sunk into pop culture. I laughed out loud at jokes that were corny as hell, and I had fun doing it. It's hard to say a bad thing about that.
-66/365 down, 299/365 to go
Recommendation: Me.
Reason: I have never seen a Marilyn Monroe movie.
I think your first Marilyn Monroe movie's some sort of landmark. I've seen parodies, I've seen homages, I've seen (for all intents and purposes) remakes, but next to the real thing, they pale in comparison. Nicole Kidman and Madonna (the first who spring to mind) can't quite compare to the screen presence of Monroe. Hype aside, I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Something about her dippy delivery, her wide blue eyes, that cute blonde hair was so magnetic it was hard to even acknowledge her costars.
I think hype definitely has influenced my watching decisions. At the moment, I'm clicking through my Ziplist to try to pick out a few more of Marilyn Monroe's classics. Nothing wrong with seeing those, of course. She was a talented actress and definitely not hard to look at. A real treat to watch and hear.
Diefied bombshells aside, the movie was sweet and funny. It was simple, it did what it had to do, there was singing, there was dancing, there were iconic moments that have sunk into pop culture. I laughed out loud at jokes that were corny as hell, and I had fun doing it. It's hard to say a bad thing about that.
-66/365 down, 299/365 to go
Thursday, March 1, 2007
He's not gone. He's never gone!
The Movie: What About Bob?, directed by Frank Oz
Recommendation: Dee
Reason: "Bill Murray is so funny!"
I really needed a break. As you can see , there've been some really psychologically gruelling films over the last week. Man Bites Dog just won't leave my head, and so the double bill of "Trisha Takinawa is Dead" on Lost and What About Bob? was the perfect thing to wash the dirt out of my psyche. Though Hurley's tale of woe and heartache was fun, What About Bob? was just really nice.
I appreciate Bill Murray's acting more and more every time I see one of his early films. Oddly, I don't have as much experience with his more recent work, though I'm looking to change that. He's a funny man, always has been, and I'm interested to see his dramatic turns. Tears of a clown. In What About Bob? he's his usual wacky force of nature, quirky and odd as he wanders through the story. His counterpoint in this odd couple comedy is Richard Dreyfuss. Dreyfuss's character is a good foil. He doesn't do much beyond explode at Murray's offbeat antics, but that's all he needs to do.
The film is funny, quirky and a little dark, but it's not black as pitch. It's what I needed to see, basically. Go Bill Murray.
-58/365 down, 307/365 to go
Recommendation: Dee
Reason: "Bill Murray is so funny!"
I really needed a break. As you can see , there've been some really psychologically gruelling films over the last week. Man Bites Dog just won't leave my head, and so the double bill of "Trisha Takinawa is Dead" on Lost and What About Bob? was the perfect thing to wash the dirt out of my psyche. Though Hurley's tale of woe and heartache was fun, What About Bob? was just really nice.
I appreciate Bill Murray's acting more and more every time I see one of his early films. Oddly, I don't have as much experience with his more recent work, though I'm looking to change that. He's a funny man, always has been, and I'm interested to see his dramatic turns. Tears of a clown. In What About Bob? he's his usual wacky force of nature, quirky and odd as he wanders through the story. His counterpoint in this odd couple comedy is Richard Dreyfuss. Dreyfuss's character is a good foil. He doesn't do much beyond explode at Murray's offbeat antics, but that's all he needs to do.
The film is funny, quirky and a little dark, but it's not black as pitch. It's what I needed to see, basically. Go Bill Murray.
-58/365 down, 307/365 to go
Monday, January 15, 2007
Is there anything Bill Nighy can't do?
The Movie: Love Actually, directed by Richard Curtis
Recommendation: Me.
Reason: I wanted to see if Chiwetel Ejiofor could play a character I don't hate. Also, everyone I talked to said it was really good.
The good news is that yes, Chiwetel Ejiofor pulled it off. I did not hate his character in Love Actually. He didn't seem at all villainous, didn't wield any sort of weapon against anyone, and if his philosophy was in any way disagreeable, I didn't notice. Hurray! The great news is that Love Actually is a sweetly sensational rom-com that manages to be funny and romantic while not being overly sappy. There are sugary moments, but the movie as a whole manages to dodge the 'overly cute' bandwagon quite nicely.
It's a quirky, interesting bunch of plots, some large, some small, all of them overlapping in tiny ways. The movie explores not only romantic love, but also familial love, lust, the love of children and unrequited love. It places equal importance on the love between siblings, parents and children, perfect strangers and long-dating couples. The relationships are explored in short segments, snippets rather than extended examinations of the whys, whos and hows. The performances the cast pulled off shone-not a one of them was bad, and most were note-perfect. Bill Nighy in particular did an excellent job. He's starting to become a secondary Christopher Walken-his presence improves every movie I've seen him in.
It was a fun, interesting movie that made me laugh, cry and cheer here and there. I have a feeling I'll be cheerily watching it for years to come. I'd heartily recommend it for anyone who doesn't like the usual sort of rom-com.
-12/365 down, 353/365 to go
Recommendation: Me.
Reason: I wanted to see if Chiwetel Ejiofor could play a character I don't hate. Also, everyone I talked to said it was really good.
The good news is that yes, Chiwetel Ejiofor pulled it off. I did not hate his character in Love Actually. He didn't seem at all villainous, didn't wield any sort of weapon against anyone, and if his philosophy was in any way disagreeable, I didn't notice. Hurray! The great news is that Love Actually is a sweetly sensational rom-com that manages to be funny and romantic while not being overly sappy. There are sugary moments, but the movie as a whole manages to dodge the 'overly cute' bandwagon quite nicely.
It's a quirky, interesting bunch of plots, some large, some small, all of them overlapping in tiny ways. The movie explores not only romantic love, but also familial love, lust, the love of children and unrequited love. It places equal importance on the love between siblings, parents and children, perfect strangers and long-dating couples. The relationships are explored in short segments, snippets rather than extended examinations of the whys, whos and hows. The performances the cast pulled off shone-not a one of them was bad, and most were note-perfect. Bill Nighy in particular did an excellent job. He's starting to become a secondary Christopher Walken-his presence improves every movie I've seen him in.
It was a fun, interesting movie that made me laugh, cry and cheer here and there. I have a feeling I'll be cheerily watching it for years to come. I'd heartily recommend it for anyone who doesn't like the usual sort of rom-com.
-12/365 down, 353/365 to go
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
