I'd been sold on 21 Jump Street for a while. So much so that I tried to stay away from every trailer and clip after the first so it would be as fresh as possible upon first viewing. Man oh man this flick did not disappoint.
I honestly can't remember the last time I saw a great fucking comedy in theaters. In fact, I think the last comedy I saw in theaters period was Bridesmaids, which was by no means great, which made my experience with 21 Jump Street all the more precious.
Right off the bat, the movie distinguishes itself from other recent comedic TV adaptations by getting through the set-up immediately and hilariously, and going straight to the point. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum go undercover at a local high school to uncover a drug ring. BOOM. That's it. Off and running. What follows in term of plot or story doesn't really matter too much from there, although I'm surprised to say more attention was paid to it than I would have expected which is never a bad thing.
But as it happens, the best laughs come from Hill's and Tatum's friendship, as the two find themselves in opposite roles as they were in school. Hill falls into the popular crowd while Tatum finds unexpected solace with the nerds. Yes, the role reversal is old as time itself in the comedy world, but the two performers not only make it gut-bustingly hilarious, they also manage to make it feel like these guys actually consider each other best friends.
While Hill deserves a lot of credit here for not only being hilarious in it, he co-wrote and co-produced the damn thing, it's Tatum who steals the whole show. His deadpan delivery and jock turned nerd attitude is a comedic goldmine. One instance in particular where he is forced to give a password and engage in an imaginary light-saber battle was simply incredible. It's merely a moment in the movie, but every time I think about it I laugh.
And that right there proves that 21 Jump Street is a great comedy. It's stayed with me. I keep replaying moments in my head, laughing each time. There was actually a point when I was watching it that my face hurt because I was laughing for so long. I don't mean to hype this movie too much, it's definitely not the best comedy ever made. But shit, man. It's just so fucking funny.
As for the 'other shit', I briefly want to talk about The Rules of Attraction, a movie I hadn't seen since high school and one that I felt was ridiculously over-rated. However, it recently popped up on netflix instant and since I had recently watched American Psycho for the 54th time I felt it a good opportunity to see if it was as bad as I remember.
To my surprise I ended up liking it quite a bit, though I can't really put my finger on why. The cast is interesting though never amazing. There is an overall feeling of pretentiousness that I remember turning me off when I first saw it and it never comes close to being as deep or interesting as it wants to be. But for some reason, I just really enjoyed it this time. Now that I think about it, I think a lot of it has to with James Van Der Beek. Hold on, hear me out now. As I mentioned, he's not amazing here, but he shows a good sense for dark humor with his narration and willingness to go for it and I just found him fun to watch. Or maybe I just really like Varsity Blues, I don't know.
Until next time dudes. Suck it.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Top Ten of 2011
Because I just know you are dying to hear what my Top Ten movies of 2011 were a full 3 months too late, I figured I'd appease your waiting and finally get back on here to share.
Overall, I think it was a fairly sub-par year for movies in general. In fact, there was only one movie that really stayed with me, creeping back in my mind months after I'd first seen it. That's not to say that there weren't a lot of really good movies, but not nearly enough that had a serious impact on my movie-loving mind.
Before I do get into my favorites though, I must admit that there are still quite a few that I have yet to see. Take Shelter, Meloncholia, Marcy Martha May Marlene, Real Steel, and Contagion just to name a few. I still plan on eventually seeing these and other titles from last year and if any should resonate I'll come back here and share.
But for now, here my ten favorite movies from 2011.
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2- This is the second year in a row that an HP film has crept into the top ten, and rightfully so. The series was already a tremendous achievement even if they weren't able to stick the landing 100%, but somehow, after 10 years and 7 increasingly great films, they did it. Every character, old and new alike, had great moments of both action and closure, making sure to hit all the right emotional buttons while somehow also avoiding a LOTR trap of the ending overstaying its welcome. Bravo.
9. Rise of the Planet of the Apes- I'll admit to being somewhat skeptical with this one at first, even with the incredible WETA effects. Don't get me wrong, I love Serkis and Franco, and the trailers were great, but I had a feeling that it just wasn't going to come together. Shit, man. I was so wrong. There is still a lot of the movie that doesn't quite gel, specifically anything that has to do with Franco or any human for that matter, but when it focuses on Ceasar, this movie is a damn near science fiction masterpiece. The whole movie is a great slow build to the eventual rise, and when it finally arrives, my heart rate skyrockets. I was genuinely terrified and in awe at the image of Ceasar on a horse. I cannot wait to see where they go with the sequel.
8. Midnight in Paris- This was a late edition to the list, as I just watched it last week, but Woody Allen's charming fairy tale was, and forgive me, just utterly irresistible. I'm sorry, I know that line is cheesy as hell, but its just the god damn truth. Filled with amazing character actors (and some amazing leading actors in amazing and sometimes unrecognizable cameos) and dozens of beautiful locations in and around Paris, I seriously dare you to watch this without a smile on your face the entire time. I'm not even that big of a Woody Allen fan (though I love Match Point), but the man won me over. Also, any movie with Michael Sheen is immediately enjoyable.
7. Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocol- In case you don't know me that well, allow me to share something. I love Tom Cruise. I mean, I fucking love Tom Cruise. Ok, now that you are aware, this movie still would have made the top ten even if Cruise was nowhere to be seen. Well, probably a few spots lower, but still. Not only is my man Tom bringing his A game here, the entire supporting cast has a much bigger spotlight than in any of the previous entries before it. Simon Pegg, Paula Patton and Jeremy Renner all have great moments that allow the audience to get to know and cheer for them. And first time live action director Brad Bird proves that you can direct incredible action sequences while letting the camera stay put and actually show the audience what is going on. Also, IMAX beats 3D.
6. The Tree of Life- This is a tough movie for me. Not necessarily brutal or hard to watch per se, just hard to talk about in much the same way The Deer Hunter was hard for me. I just can't seem to put my feeling towards these movies into words. I also must admit that I don't totally get it. All that stuff at the end especially. I just don't know what that was. Call me stupid. However, everything else is simply astounding. Brad Pitt's performance as a man desperately trying to be the best father he can be and utterly failing in a way that can only be called human is one of the best of his career, if not the best. Director Mallick seems to have gotten his second or maybe third wind in terms of filmmaking, with not one, not two, but three movies on the way. If any of them can come remotely close to reaching the heights of The Tree of Life, count me in.
5. 50/50- This is another one that I've only recently seen, and thus hasn't really had a chance to resonate in my brain yet, but my initial reaction watching it was too strong to ignore. One of the things that makes this one work so well, I think, is that it's a simple concept with simple execution. Joseph-Gordon Levitt, a seemingly healthy twenty-something is diagnosed with cancer and a 50/50 chance of survival. What follows is a wonderful journey of learning to deal with life and death with good friends, family, and surprisingly, humor. The cast is pitch perfect, the script is tight and to the point and in the end I can honestly say I was invested in what happened to these people. A great flick to check out, especially if you're in need of a pick me up.
4. Attack the Block- Aliens crash land in an urban London neighborhood and a group of teenagers fight to take back their block. Even though this movie can be summed up in one sentence, the amount of awesome this movie contains can only be enjoyed by watching the damn thing. Intense, exciting, topical and hilarious, Attack the Block is one of the best Sci-Fi movies of the new decade. This is definitely the movie I most regret not seeing with an Alamo audience last year. But even in the comfort of my couch, I found myself cheering and screaming our heroes along. Don't doubt, just watch. Trust.
3. Warrior- Holy god, this movie slapped me across the face with emotion. I honestly don't understand how more people haven't seen this. An incredible story about a family struggling to reconnect with each other and others struggling to stay connected. Amazingly realized and brutal fight scenes are a highlight, but for me it was the story of one brother and his wife that really sent this one over the edge. In no way have we experienced anything like what this couple onscreen did, but they are very realistic problems that could happen to anyone and it just made me appreciate things a little more. Please, spread the word and give this one a shot.
2. Fast Five-Man, even if you hate the Fast & Furious franchise, Fast Five will still make you cum a little. I love Vin, I love Dwayne, and I even love Paul. Seriously, this movie is a blast. Plain and simple. If you like fun, you will like this movie. FUCKING WATCH IT ALREADY.
1. Drive-No other movie this year crawled into my head harder or longer than Drive. The second it was over I immediately wanted to see it again. Gosling is the epitome of cool here, with his character never having to say anything more than he feels absolutely necessary. My absolute favorite performance of last year. Of course, you can't talk performances with this movie and not mention Albert Brooks. Of all the award snubs last year, Brooks easily takes the cake as the most glaring. Gawd this movie is cool. The tone, the music, the jacket. This movie is why I love movies.
So there you have it. I know I haven't been on here as much as I said I would. I'm hoping to remedy that. I've actually been working on My Mission a little bit and slowly hacking away at the dvds and blu rays that I own but have yet to watch so the plan is to use that as an excuse to get on here more.
So, until then, suck it.
Overall, I think it was a fairly sub-par year for movies in general. In fact, there was only one movie that really stayed with me, creeping back in my mind months after I'd first seen it. That's not to say that there weren't a lot of really good movies, but not nearly enough that had a serious impact on my movie-loving mind.
Before I do get into my favorites though, I must admit that there are still quite a few that I have yet to see. Take Shelter, Meloncholia, Marcy Martha May Marlene, Real Steel, and Contagion just to name a few. I still plan on eventually seeing these and other titles from last year and if any should resonate I'll come back here and share.
But for now, here my ten favorite movies from 2011.
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2- This is the second year in a row that an HP film has crept into the top ten, and rightfully so. The series was already a tremendous achievement even if they weren't able to stick the landing 100%, but somehow, after 10 years and 7 increasingly great films, they did it. Every character, old and new alike, had great moments of both action and closure, making sure to hit all the right emotional buttons while somehow also avoiding a LOTR trap of the ending overstaying its welcome. Bravo.
9. Rise of the Planet of the Apes- I'll admit to being somewhat skeptical with this one at first, even with the incredible WETA effects. Don't get me wrong, I love Serkis and Franco, and the trailers were great, but I had a feeling that it just wasn't going to come together. Shit, man. I was so wrong. There is still a lot of the movie that doesn't quite gel, specifically anything that has to do with Franco or any human for that matter, but when it focuses on Ceasar, this movie is a damn near science fiction masterpiece. The whole movie is a great slow build to the eventual rise, and when it finally arrives, my heart rate skyrockets. I was genuinely terrified and in awe at the image of Ceasar on a horse. I cannot wait to see where they go with the sequel.
8. Midnight in Paris- This was a late edition to the list, as I just watched it last week, but Woody Allen's charming fairy tale was, and forgive me, just utterly irresistible. I'm sorry, I know that line is cheesy as hell, but its just the god damn truth. Filled with amazing character actors (and some amazing leading actors in amazing and sometimes unrecognizable cameos) and dozens of beautiful locations in and around Paris, I seriously dare you to watch this without a smile on your face the entire time. I'm not even that big of a Woody Allen fan (though I love Match Point), but the man won me over. Also, any movie with Michael Sheen is immediately enjoyable.
7. Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocol- In case you don't know me that well, allow me to share something. I love Tom Cruise. I mean, I fucking love Tom Cruise. Ok, now that you are aware, this movie still would have made the top ten even if Cruise was nowhere to be seen. Well, probably a few spots lower, but still. Not only is my man Tom bringing his A game here, the entire supporting cast has a much bigger spotlight than in any of the previous entries before it. Simon Pegg, Paula Patton and Jeremy Renner all have great moments that allow the audience to get to know and cheer for them. And first time live action director Brad Bird proves that you can direct incredible action sequences while letting the camera stay put and actually show the audience what is going on. Also, IMAX beats 3D.
6. The Tree of Life- This is a tough movie for me. Not necessarily brutal or hard to watch per se, just hard to talk about in much the same way The Deer Hunter was hard for me. I just can't seem to put my feeling towards these movies into words. I also must admit that I don't totally get it. All that stuff at the end especially. I just don't know what that was. Call me stupid. However, everything else is simply astounding. Brad Pitt's performance as a man desperately trying to be the best father he can be and utterly failing in a way that can only be called human is one of the best of his career, if not the best. Director Mallick seems to have gotten his second or maybe third wind in terms of filmmaking, with not one, not two, but three movies on the way. If any of them can come remotely close to reaching the heights of The Tree of Life, count me in.
5. 50/50- This is another one that I've only recently seen, and thus hasn't really had a chance to resonate in my brain yet, but my initial reaction watching it was too strong to ignore. One of the things that makes this one work so well, I think, is that it's a simple concept with simple execution. Joseph-Gordon Levitt, a seemingly healthy twenty-something is diagnosed with cancer and a 50/50 chance of survival. What follows is a wonderful journey of learning to deal with life and death with good friends, family, and surprisingly, humor. The cast is pitch perfect, the script is tight and to the point and in the end I can honestly say I was invested in what happened to these people. A great flick to check out, especially if you're in need of a pick me up.
4. Attack the Block- Aliens crash land in an urban London neighborhood and a group of teenagers fight to take back their block. Even though this movie can be summed up in one sentence, the amount of awesome this movie contains can only be enjoyed by watching the damn thing. Intense, exciting, topical and hilarious, Attack the Block is one of the best Sci-Fi movies of the new decade. This is definitely the movie I most regret not seeing with an Alamo audience last year. But even in the comfort of my couch, I found myself cheering and screaming our heroes along. Don't doubt, just watch. Trust.
3. Warrior- Holy god, this movie slapped me across the face with emotion. I honestly don't understand how more people haven't seen this. An incredible story about a family struggling to reconnect with each other and others struggling to stay connected. Amazingly realized and brutal fight scenes are a highlight, but for me it was the story of one brother and his wife that really sent this one over the edge. In no way have we experienced anything like what this couple onscreen did, but they are very realistic problems that could happen to anyone and it just made me appreciate things a little more. Please, spread the word and give this one a shot.
2. Fast Five-Man, even if you hate the Fast & Furious franchise, Fast Five will still make you cum a little. I love Vin, I love Dwayne, and I even love Paul. Seriously, this movie is a blast. Plain and simple. If you like fun, you will like this movie. FUCKING WATCH IT ALREADY.
1. Drive-No other movie this year crawled into my head harder or longer than Drive. The second it was over I immediately wanted to see it again. Gosling is the epitome of cool here, with his character never having to say anything more than he feels absolutely necessary. My absolute favorite performance of last year. Of course, you can't talk performances with this movie and not mention Albert Brooks. Of all the award snubs last year, Brooks easily takes the cake as the most glaring. Gawd this movie is cool. The tone, the music, the jacket. This movie is why I love movies.
So there you have it. I know I haven't been on here as much as I said I would. I'm hoping to remedy that. I've actually been working on My Mission a little bit and slowly hacking away at the dvds and blu rays that I own but have yet to watch so the plan is to use that as an excuse to get on here more.
So, until then, suck it.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Warrior
I went back and forth between wanting to and not wanting to see Warrior. When I first saw the trailer, it looked a little cheesy. But I loved the cast, and shit, I love a good sports movie. And for whatever reason, when the trailer was first released I was seeing an extremely high number of movies in the theater at the time and saw that trailer at every single one. I just got sick of it. It's not a bad trailer by any means, but after seeing it so many times I just let it get to me and threw the movie to the bottom of my must see list.
When it finally came out and got great reviews not only from critics but audiences alike, I still couldn't drag myself to the theater. Having finally watched it the other week, I wish I could go back and slap myself for waiting this long to see such a great movie.
On the surface, there really isn't much new Warrior brings to the table, aside from the MMA aspect. Of course, it's unfair to judge this movie without scratching the surface, especially since director/co-writer Gavin O'Conner has carefully disguised a heartbreaking family drama as a 'Rocky' like underdog story.
And that's what really made this movie for me. We get to spend over an hour with the characters before the main fighting event the movie is based around. Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton each prove themselves a force in the ring in the film's many fight scenes, but it's the moments in between where these guys really get to me. Both guys have very different, yet very similar reasons for entering the tournament, and all the time spent exploring these reasons makes it extremely difficult to choose one to root for. They are both flawed men, but as we come to learn they are both just trying to do right for the ones they love.
Nick Nolte and Jennifer Morrison offer fine supporting work as the alcoholic father who drove the family apart and Edgerton's wife, respectively. Morrison's character in particular stood out to me. Katy and myself are in no way in a similar situation as Edgarton and Morrison are in this film, but every time they were on screen I found myself that much more enthralled. I think the longer I'm married the more I realize how much it means to me, and seeing these two people push through such hard times together really spoke to me.
As for the actual fights themselves, O'Conner puts you in the ring in a way that's not distracting. You can always tell what's going on, who's who, and most of all how you feel each and every hit. Almost the entire last hour of the movie is fighting, so it was crucial that with each new fight came something different. Some are long, some are short, but they are always exciting.
I'm not an MMA fan by any means. Hell, I'm not a sports fan by any real means, but Warrior takes it time and lets us get to know these characters and get invested in them, so that when the time comes we want what they want, making it damn near impossible not to get caught up in the sport aspect of it.
For whatever reason, Warrior did not catch fire with audiences, which surprises me since it's such a feel good movie. Maybe they were fatigued from family sports dramas with The Fighter. Either way, even if you are barely wanting to see this movie, give it a shot. And I dare you not to get choked up at the end, I dare you.
Suck it.
When it finally came out and got great reviews not only from critics but audiences alike, I still couldn't drag myself to the theater. Having finally watched it the other week, I wish I could go back and slap myself for waiting this long to see such a great movie.
On the surface, there really isn't much new Warrior brings to the table, aside from the MMA aspect. Of course, it's unfair to judge this movie without scratching the surface, especially since director/co-writer Gavin O'Conner has carefully disguised a heartbreaking family drama as a 'Rocky' like underdog story.
And that's what really made this movie for me. We get to spend over an hour with the characters before the main fighting event the movie is based around. Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton each prove themselves a force in the ring in the film's many fight scenes, but it's the moments in between where these guys really get to me. Both guys have very different, yet very similar reasons for entering the tournament, and all the time spent exploring these reasons makes it extremely difficult to choose one to root for. They are both flawed men, but as we come to learn they are both just trying to do right for the ones they love.
Nick Nolte and Jennifer Morrison offer fine supporting work as the alcoholic father who drove the family apart and Edgerton's wife, respectively. Morrison's character in particular stood out to me. Katy and myself are in no way in a similar situation as Edgarton and Morrison are in this film, but every time they were on screen I found myself that much more enthralled. I think the longer I'm married the more I realize how much it means to me, and seeing these two people push through such hard times together really spoke to me.
As for the actual fights themselves, O'Conner puts you in the ring in a way that's not distracting. You can always tell what's going on, who's who, and most of all how you feel each and every hit. Almost the entire last hour of the movie is fighting, so it was crucial that with each new fight came something different. Some are long, some are short, but they are always exciting.
I'm not an MMA fan by any means. Hell, I'm not a sports fan by any real means, but Warrior takes it time and lets us get to know these characters and get invested in them, so that when the time comes we want what they want, making it damn near impossible not to get caught up in the sport aspect of it.
For whatever reason, Warrior did not catch fire with audiences, which surprises me since it's such a feel good movie. Maybe they were fatigued from family sports dramas with The Fighter. Either way, even if you are barely wanting to see this movie, give it a shot. And I dare you not to get choked up at the end, I dare you.
Suck it.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Haywire
I know I said I would talk about War Horse and Warrior, and I will. I'll also try to fit in something about Moneyball which I just saw as well, but right now I got Haywire on my mind.
I'm always down for Soderbergh. Even with his most commercial movies, he insists on doing something different. He's done comedy, drama, thriller, experiemental, documentary, and now with Haywire, he's made his first straight-up action flick. It's not the best or most exciting action movie out there, but then that's not what Soderbergh is trying to do. He set out to make a lean, mean, and surprisingly quiet action movie.
He also set out to introduce the world to Gina Carano, a female MMA fighter whom Soderbergh randomly saw on TV during a fight one night and decided that she should have her own movie. OK, a lot more decision making went into to than just that, but still, that's the jist. As it turns out, Carano is a real find. Not only can she kick complete ass onscreen, but she didn't embarrass herself while acting next to guys like Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender and Ewan McGregor. There were a few moments here and there where it felt like she was just reciting dialogue, but again, that's why Soderbergh got some major players to help pick up the slack.
One thing that really surprised about Haywire, though, was how loose it feels. Which, admittedly, shouldn't really be a surprise at all considering its a Soderbergh movie. But I couldn't help but compare this to the Ocean's films. Not the comedic aspect obviously, but the long zooms and soft jazzy score help give it a much more entertaining quality to it.
In terms of action, Soderbergh went realistic and surprisingly quiet. All the fights are rough, and all the fights are short. Carano's character is the ultimate operative whose goal in any fight is to end it, and end it quick. Not only does Soderbergh just set the camera down and let the action play out, but he does it in a relatively quiet manner. When a punch lands, it's not overdone. We feel it not because we hear it, but because we can see it and we can believe it.
I have to admit I was expecting something a little more experimental when I walked into the theater, although not for any good reason. As always though, Soderbergh delivered something unexpected, which is why I keep seeing his movies, and why you should too.
I have the weekend off, so no excuses. War Horse, Warrior, and Moneyball this weekend. Suck it.
I'm always down for Soderbergh. Even with his most commercial movies, he insists on doing something different. He's done comedy, drama, thriller, experiemental, documentary, and now with Haywire, he's made his first straight-up action flick. It's not the best or most exciting action movie out there, but then that's not what Soderbergh is trying to do. He set out to make a lean, mean, and surprisingly quiet action movie.
He also set out to introduce the world to Gina Carano, a female MMA fighter whom Soderbergh randomly saw on TV during a fight one night and decided that she should have her own movie. OK, a lot more decision making went into to than just that, but still, that's the jist. As it turns out, Carano is a real find. Not only can she kick complete ass onscreen, but she didn't embarrass herself while acting next to guys like Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender and Ewan McGregor. There were a few moments here and there where it felt like she was just reciting dialogue, but again, that's why Soderbergh got some major players to help pick up the slack.
One thing that really surprised about Haywire, though, was how loose it feels. Which, admittedly, shouldn't really be a surprise at all considering its a Soderbergh movie. But I couldn't help but compare this to the Ocean's films. Not the comedic aspect obviously, but the long zooms and soft jazzy score help give it a much more entertaining quality to it.
In terms of action, Soderbergh went realistic and surprisingly quiet. All the fights are rough, and all the fights are short. Carano's character is the ultimate operative whose goal in any fight is to end it, and end it quick. Not only does Soderbergh just set the camera down and let the action play out, but he does it in a relatively quiet manner. When a punch lands, it's not overdone. We feel it not because we hear it, but because we can see it and we can believe it.
I have to admit I was expecting something a little more experimental when I walked into the theater, although not for any good reason. As always though, Soderbergh delivered something unexpected, which is why I keep seeing his movies, and why you should too.
I have the weekend off, so no excuses. War Horse, Warrior, and Moneyball this weekend. Suck it.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
It's been a few weeks since I've seen David Fincher's version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and for the life of me I haven't really been able to come up with something to say about it, good or bad.
And let me add that it's not because I've been lazy this time, I just have a really whatever feeling about this movie.
I haven't seen the original version, who knows if I ever will, so I can't compare the two. But I can compare it to other Fincher films. I know that seems unfair, but come on, Fincher has done this territory before, and he's done it far better. Se7en and Zodiac are brilliant serial killer films, with Fincher making each of them brilliant and unique in completely different ways that make them all the more impressive.
With Tattoo though, there's mostly a 'been there, done that' vibe that I just couldn't shake. I don't really think it's Fincher's fault per se, as it's absolutely gorgeous to look at and the two leading performances from Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara were both top notch, but the source material as a whole just isn't bringing anything new to the table. Mara's character Lizbeth is without a doubt an interesting one, and perhaps the sequels focus on her more, and if that's the case I definitely wouldn't mind revisiting this world with these actors and hopefully Fincher at the helm as well.
It's hard to say I don't like a David Fincher movie. And honestly, it's not that I didn't like this movie, it's really not bad at all, but at this point watching a director of Fincher's degree put out something that's so middle of the road is frustrating.
I know I should say more, but honestly, I just can't do it. Take that as you will.
I've seen a few more movies this week, most notably War Horse and Warrior, both of which were fantastic and both I'll be talking about here within the next few days. I know it's well into the new year but I'd still like to post my top ten list for 2011 at some point. There are still a few more movies I need to see, like Moneyball, The Ides of March, 50/50 and Cowboys and Aliens. All of which I have lined up in my Netflix queue. The goal is to have the list ready right around Oscar time. I know you can't wait.
So until next time dudes, suck it.
And let me add that it's not because I've been lazy this time, I just have a really whatever feeling about this movie.
I haven't seen the original version, who knows if I ever will, so I can't compare the two. But I can compare it to other Fincher films. I know that seems unfair, but come on, Fincher has done this territory before, and he's done it far better. Se7en and Zodiac are brilliant serial killer films, with Fincher making each of them brilliant and unique in completely different ways that make them all the more impressive.
With Tattoo though, there's mostly a 'been there, done that' vibe that I just couldn't shake. I don't really think it's Fincher's fault per se, as it's absolutely gorgeous to look at and the two leading performances from Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara were both top notch, but the source material as a whole just isn't bringing anything new to the table. Mara's character Lizbeth is without a doubt an interesting one, and perhaps the sequels focus on her more, and if that's the case I definitely wouldn't mind revisiting this world with these actors and hopefully Fincher at the helm as well.
It's hard to say I don't like a David Fincher movie. And honestly, it's not that I didn't like this movie, it's really not bad at all, but at this point watching a director of Fincher's degree put out something that's so middle of the road is frustrating.
I know I should say more, but honestly, I just can't do it. Take that as you will.
I've seen a few more movies this week, most notably War Horse and Warrior, both of which were fantastic and both I'll be talking about here within the next few days. I know it's well into the new year but I'd still like to post my top ten list for 2011 at some point. There are still a few more movies I need to see, like Moneyball, The Ides of March, 50/50 and Cowboys and Aliens. All of which I have lined up in my Netflix queue. The goal is to have the list ready right around Oscar time. I know you can't wait.
So until next time dudes, suck it.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
The Descendants
The Descendants is the best OK movie I've seen all year.
Well, let me explain. The Descendants is better than OK. There are a lot of really good things about it, particularly George Clooney and both young actresses who play his daughters. But as a whole, the film is just kind of there, never really reaching the emotional level that I've come to expect from Alexander Payne.
Maybe I was expecting more than I should have, but for me, this movie is just there. And for a movie that's dealing with family, marriage, cheating and perhaps most importantly, how to deal with tragedy, I expect to have more of a reaction.
I can't quite put my finger on it either. There are a number of very real and honest moments in the film, all of which Clooney nails, but something is lacking. It may have something to do with the fact that Clooney and his family are all very rich, and one of the big problems he is dealing with is whether or not to hold onto a huge piece of land in the middle of Hawaii or sell it and make a crap load of money. I don't know about you, but I just cannot relate to such a misfortune.
To be fair, the movie never rubs the characters good fortune in our face, but it gave me just enough of a disconnect that I could not find myself getting into the film as much as I wanted to.
The Descendants is not a bad movie but any means, but I cannot for the life of me figure out why so many are insisting its one of the year's best.
Well, let me explain. The Descendants is better than OK. There are a lot of really good things about it, particularly George Clooney and both young actresses who play his daughters. But as a whole, the film is just kind of there, never really reaching the emotional level that I've come to expect from Alexander Payne.
Maybe I was expecting more than I should have, but for me, this movie is just there. And for a movie that's dealing with family, marriage, cheating and perhaps most importantly, how to deal with tragedy, I expect to have more of a reaction.
I can't quite put my finger on it either. There are a number of very real and honest moments in the film, all of which Clooney nails, but something is lacking. It may have something to do with the fact that Clooney and his family are all very rich, and one of the big problems he is dealing with is whether or not to hold onto a huge piece of land in the middle of Hawaii or sell it and make a crap load of money. I don't know about you, but I just cannot relate to such a misfortune.
To be fair, the movie never rubs the characters good fortune in our face, but it gave me just enough of a disconnect that I could not find myself getting into the film as much as I wanted to.
The Descendants is not a bad movie but any means, but I cannot for the life of me figure out why so many are insisting its one of the year's best.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Young Adult
Young Adult is the second collaboration between director Jason Reitman and write Diablo Cody, their first being the divisive Juno.
I have seen Juno twice, albeit not since it was originally released. Even after all this time, I can't quite figure out how I feel about the movie. On one hand, the dialogue at times was excruciating, so much so that anyone defending it by arguing that's just how teens talk today sent me into a blinding rage. I blamed Cody. On the other hand though, there are some genuinely fucked up things that happen in that movie, things that are dealt with in a very realistic and honest way. Some of this is due to Reitman's deft direction, but it was Cody who laid the groundwork.
I'd have to see the film again before I could try and figure out what my final opinion of it and Cody's effort is, but I can definitely tell you that after viewing Young Adult, I will be keeping a close eye on all her future projects from this point on.
The film opens with a wordless introduction to Mavis, played by Charlize Theron, showing her going through what appears to be her morning routine. Wake up face down and hungover, chug diet coke straight from the bottle, do a half ass workout with a Wii, watch The Kardashians and eventually sit down to read emails and maybe do some work.
It feels as though Cody went out of her way to prove that her Oscar win wasn't a fluke and that she has more in her than just witty and insane dialogue( though there are a few moments where she allows a few choice teen phrases to pop up to amusing effect). The good news is that she succeeds, almost overwhelmingly so. Mavis is, in a word, a wreck. Completely self-obsessed and bordering on alcoholism, Mavis receives a slight slap to the face when she receives a mass email from her high school boyfriend announcing the birth of his child. Convinced that he is miserable, Mavis takes it upon herself to go back to her hometown and save her former love from misery, no matter the cost.
Theron has already proven her Oscar win for Monster was deserved a few times over, but here she gets the chance at another kind of monster in Mavis, giving her just the right amount of bitchiness and believability without making her a cartoon. What's even more impressive is that Theron has the balls to play a character so utterly unlikeable. Mavis truly has no redeemable qualities, and in the end doesn't even learn anything or make any kind of huge change, and Theron relishes it. It's rare nowadays to see an honest to god movie star make such a move. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of movie stars who are still giving great performances, but few give off such a sense of 'I don't give a fuck' as Theron is here. Truly refreshing.
Praise also has to be given to Patton Oswalt, who plays Theron's crippled former class mate who is the only one who tries even a little bit to convince Mavis that something is seriously wrong with her. Oswalt has slowly but surely been delivering great performances for years now, especially with Big Fan, and here's hoping Young Adult enables him even more chances.
The only thing that doesn't stand out about Young Adult is Jason Reitman's direction. That's not a diss though. Reitman understands that the script and cast have done a lot of the work for him, so he carefully and quietly guides the story to its end, unafraid to let the movie go to the dark places it does and willing to let everyone else take all the credit.
As a Jason Reitman film, I have to say I enjoyed Up in the Air and Thank You for Smoking quite a bit more. But as a Diablo Cody and Charlize Theron movie, I really liked it. I'm especially excited to see what Cody does with her Evil Dead script given how dark and funny her work here is.
So there is one down. I've also seen The Decendants and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo so I'll try to get something up here for both of those before the weekend is done.
So, until then, suck it.
I have seen Juno twice, albeit not since it was originally released. Even after all this time, I can't quite figure out how I feel about the movie. On one hand, the dialogue at times was excruciating, so much so that anyone defending it by arguing that's just how teens talk today sent me into a blinding rage. I blamed Cody. On the other hand though, there are some genuinely fucked up things that happen in that movie, things that are dealt with in a very realistic and honest way. Some of this is due to Reitman's deft direction, but it was Cody who laid the groundwork.
I'd have to see the film again before I could try and figure out what my final opinion of it and Cody's effort is, but I can definitely tell you that after viewing Young Adult, I will be keeping a close eye on all her future projects from this point on.
The film opens with a wordless introduction to Mavis, played by Charlize Theron, showing her going through what appears to be her morning routine. Wake up face down and hungover, chug diet coke straight from the bottle, do a half ass workout with a Wii, watch The Kardashians and eventually sit down to read emails and maybe do some work.
It feels as though Cody went out of her way to prove that her Oscar win wasn't a fluke and that she has more in her than just witty and insane dialogue( though there are a few moments where she allows a few choice teen phrases to pop up to amusing effect). The good news is that she succeeds, almost overwhelmingly so. Mavis is, in a word, a wreck. Completely self-obsessed and bordering on alcoholism, Mavis receives a slight slap to the face when she receives a mass email from her high school boyfriend announcing the birth of his child. Convinced that he is miserable, Mavis takes it upon herself to go back to her hometown and save her former love from misery, no matter the cost.
Theron has already proven her Oscar win for Monster was deserved a few times over, but here she gets the chance at another kind of monster in Mavis, giving her just the right amount of bitchiness and believability without making her a cartoon. What's even more impressive is that Theron has the balls to play a character so utterly unlikeable. Mavis truly has no redeemable qualities, and in the end doesn't even learn anything or make any kind of huge change, and Theron relishes it. It's rare nowadays to see an honest to god movie star make such a move. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of movie stars who are still giving great performances, but few give off such a sense of 'I don't give a fuck' as Theron is here. Truly refreshing.
Praise also has to be given to Patton Oswalt, who plays Theron's crippled former class mate who is the only one who tries even a little bit to convince Mavis that something is seriously wrong with her. Oswalt has slowly but surely been delivering great performances for years now, especially with Big Fan, and here's hoping Young Adult enables him even more chances.
The only thing that doesn't stand out about Young Adult is Jason Reitman's direction. That's not a diss though. Reitman understands that the script and cast have done a lot of the work for him, so he carefully and quietly guides the story to its end, unafraid to let the movie go to the dark places it does and willing to let everyone else take all the credit.
As a Jason Reitman film, I have to say I enjoyed Up in the Air and Thank You for Smoking quite a bit more. But as a Diablo Cody and Charlize Theron movie, I really liked it. I'm especially excited to see what Cody does with her Evil Dead script given how dark and funny her work here is.
So there is one down. I've also seen The Decendants and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo so I'll try to get something up here for both of those before the weekend is done.
So, until then, suck it.
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