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'Meek's Cutoff' (PG) (rental)
Writer: Jonathan Raymond
Director: Kelly Reichardt
Starring: Michelle Williams, Bruce Greenwood, Shirley Henderson, Zoe Kazan,
Will Patton, Paul Dano, Neal Huff
"Meek's Cutoff" is a different kind of Western and I love how unconventional it is. There is a great impending doom being built up in the story but when it all ends I felt unsatisfied. The director is Kelly Reichardt and she is a bold new director who has been praised heavily. I didn't get the hype over her first movie "Old Joy" which didn't work for me. I didn't get or have any interest in the characters. But I loved Reichardt's next movie "Wendy and Lucy" with an earth shattering performance by Michelle Williams. With "Meek's Cutoff" I am back to the I don't get it "Old Joy" position.
"Meek's Cutoff" tells the story of a group of settlers in 1845 Oregon traveling in harsh conditions. They pick up another traveler, an Indian who seems to be dangerous and keeps this group on their heels. The lead male Meek is played by Bruce Greenwood and he is mean to the Indian. This is nicely balanced by one of the female settlers played well again by the great Michelle Williams. She is kind, feeds the Indian and sews a hole in one of his shoes. The Indian starts to lead the settlers but are they heading into an ambush by more Indians or are they reaching a dead end?
I do like that feeling of danger and Reichardt does an effective job setting that up. I like the Michelle Williams character but no other character registers and maybe that is the point. The major strength of this movie making it worth the rental on HD DVD is the excellent cinematography. It is not stunning but the location work is incredible making us feel like we are there back in 1845. It is not glamorous but the camera flawlessly captures the rustic, gritty part of that old West that many Westerns these days don't do.
I loved the look of the movie but I can't fully recommend it because the movie doesn't go anywhere for me and I know that is not the point. There are no easy answers and no final wrap up that comes to a complete end and I usually love that. I liked the movie when I was watching it but walking out of the theatre I just felt nothing. I felt like I was missing something vital and when a style of ending that I usually love leaves me cold I knew that the movie didn't affect me positively or negatively.
P.S. Check it out at home though because for the adventurous viewer it might be rewarding. In my opinion an unusual Western that is much more effective is 2005's "The Proposition" with a powerful performance by Ray Winstone, very powerful stuff.
Monday, May 23, 2011
'Everything Must Go'
'Everything Must Go' (R) (3 stars)
Written by Dan Rush based on a short story "Why Don't You Dance" by Raymond Carver
Directed by Dan Rush
Starring: Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall, Christopher Jordan Wallace, Laura Dern,
Michael Pena
"Everything Must Go" shows a different side of Will Ferrell that we have seen before. He has gone the serious route in a light way in "Stranger Than Fiction". This time he is in a more melancholy movie that might test a viewer's patience. The movie is not about anything deep and it takes it's time but Will Ferrell is amazing! His performance should definitely be looked at for award consideration.
"Everything Must Go" tells the story of Nick Halsey who is an executive who has just been fired. He is also a recovering alcoholic who relapses after he is fired and comes home to find out his wife has left him and left his belongings on the front lawn. She changes the locks and through a few freak events his car is repossessed. He is lost at first but a young neighbor kid comes along and Nick recruits him to help him. Nick wants to have a garage sale of his possessions and get his life back in order.
Nick also meets a pregnant wife who lives across the street from him. Her name is Samantha played by the wonderful Rebecca Hall. There is an attraction and connection there but at first everything comes off awkward. They develop a friendship and go to dinner but their relationship is rocky sometimes. As the movie settles down not much happens after the first half hour. This is not a very deep or great movie but I loved it for Rebecca Hall and the kid played by the appealing Christopher Jordan Wallace.
The movie affected me mostly by seeing how wonderful Will Ferrell's performance is. This is one of the best portrayls of a recovering alcoholic reminding me of my favorite portrayl of an alcoholic by Micheal Keaton in 1988's "Clean and Sober". That is the best performance ever and Will Ferrell is almost as great. It is a tender performance, subtle, impeccable and touching. I would love to see Ferrell balance his funny blockbusters with rewarding dramas like this. Yes he will be compared to a Jim Carrey or a Robin Williams or other comedic actors who have stretched with dramatic roles. We must not forget the fact that Ferrell can do this drama thing in his sleep, he has already accomplished it. What is so great is you will forget that this is Will Ferrell after about 10 minutes.
Written by Dan Rush based on a short story "Why Don't You Dance" by Raymond Carver
Directed by Dan Rush
Starring: Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall, Christopher Jordan Wallace, Laura Dern,
Michael Pena
"Everything Must Go" shows a different side of Will Ferrell that we have seen before. He has gone the serious route in a light way in "Stranger Than Fiction". This time he is in a more melancholy movie that might test a viewer's patience. The movie is not about anything deep and it takes it's time but Will Ferrell is amazing! His performance should definitely be looked at for award consideration.
"Everything Must Go" tells the story of Nick Halsey who is an executive who has just been fired. He is also a recovering alcoholic who relapses after he is fired and comes home to find out his wife has left him and left his belongings on the front lawn. She changes the locks and through a few freak events his car is repossessed. He is lost at first but a young neighbor kid comes along and Nick recruits him to help him. Nick wants to have a garage sale of his possessions and get his life back in order.
Nick also meets a pregnant wife who lives across the street from him. Her name is Samantha played by the wonderful Rebecca Hall. There is an attraction and connection there but at first everything comes off awkward. They develop a friendship and go to dinner but their relationship is rocky sometimes. As the movie settles down not much happens after the first half hour. This is not a very deep or great movie but I loved it for Rebecca Hall and the kid played by the appealing Christopher Jordan Wallace.
The movie affected me mostly by seeing how wonderful Will Ferrell's performance is. This is one of the best portrayls of a recovering alcoholic reminding me of my favorite portrayl of an alcoholic by Micheal Keaton in 1988's "Clean and Sober". That is the best performance ever and Will Ferrell is almost as great. It is a tender performance, subtle, impeccable and touching. I would love to see Ferrell balance his funny blockbusters with rewarding dramas like this. Yes he will be compared to a Jim Carrey or a Robin Williams or other comedic actors who have stretched with dramatic roles. We must not forget the fact that Ferrell can do this drama thing in his sleep, he has already accomplished it. What is so great is you will forget that this is Will Ferrell after about 10 minutes.
'Jumping the Broom'
'Jumping the Broom' (PG-13) (3 stars)
Writers: Elizabeth Hunter and Arlene Gibbs
Director: Salim Akil
Starring: Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Loretta devine, Angela Bassett,
Mike Epps, Romeo, Tasha Smith, Megan Good, Julie Bowen, DeRay Davis,
Gary Dourdan, TD Jakes
Getting ready for a marriage is such a strange, stressful and ridiculous
ritual. What with the rehearsal dinner, the preparation, who to invite. If the significant others haven't met the other's parents it can be humiliating also. This strange dance I think is the same between all races and I am always for the elopement strategy. The perceptive new movie "Jumping the Broom" does a good job capturing this though sometimes the movie is exaggerated for effect. This is an appealing movie with a good cast and characters, some we might not like but we understand.
"Jumping the Broom" tells the story of Sabrina who we first see being played by a man after they have slept together. She finally meets Jason who she runs over with her car but they are instantly attracted to each other. After just a few months they become engaged and Sabrina has found her man. As they prepare their wedding Sabrina and her parents have not met Jason's family. They all get together at Sabrina's upper class parent's home on the lake for the wedding. After that there are some interesting plot developments.
Jason's family is very blue collar so we know at first there will be many cultural differences. Jason's mom brings her best friend along and the rest of the family. Mrs. Taylor does not like the snooty and rich Watsons especially Mrs. Watson. The rest of the film deals with the wedding preparation and the uneasiness between the Taylors and Watsons. Something shocking develops that I will not reveal and at first I didn't like this shift in the plot. After a while though it made the movie deeper than just a fluffy comedy. There are many important moral questions here that are asked and I felt the movie handled them well.
This is a movie produced by the Reverend TD Jakes and that is why the movie deals heavily with morality. TD Jakes is like a quieter, less showy version of Tyler Perry. Tyler Perry's biggest problem is the campy and over the top melodrama. His movies while entertaining can be exaggerated and fake and it would have taken the morality and made it highly theatrical. It took me about a dozen tries for me to fully like a Tyler Perry movie. With Jakes it took me just one try with his very good movie "Not easily Broken" and now with this second movie he is batting 100 for me.
Paula Patton has such a great smile, she is strikingly beautiful but always comes off as humble. She does a great job here and I hope she gets more opportunities to be a lead in many more movies. Angela Bassett is great as always and I love Loretta Devine here who is funny and when her character does something evil we don't hate her. The supporting cast is fine and Laz Alonso as Jason is fine though there is no star potential there like Patton has. Actually Gary Dourdan (TV's CSI) has breakout star potential as does his co star Megan Good. They form a very sexy subplot and I actually wouldn't mind a spin off movie based on them.
"Jumping the Broom" has it's problem but it's humor is appealing and I liked it's frankness and how it deals with relationships and morals. This is a movie about family and I like the messages Jakes is supplying with his movies as opposed to the sometimes minstrel show by Tyler Perry. It has a wonderful actress in Paula Patton, two reliable greats in Devine and Bassett and two sexy, promising future stars in Gary Dourdan and Megan Good. It also does not waver in it's appeal even when it gets very serious.
Writers: Elizabeth Hunter and Arlene Gibbs
Director: Salim Akil
Starring: Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Loretta devine, Angela Bassett,
Mike Epps, Romeo, Tasha Smith, Megan Good, Julie Bowen, DeRay Davis,
Gary Dourdan, TD Jakes
Getting ready for a marriage is such a strange, stressful and ridiculous
ritual. What with the rehearsal dinner, the preparation, who to invite. If the significant others haven't met the other's parents it can be humiliating also. This strange dance I think is the same between all races and I am always for the elopement strategy. The perceptive new movie "Jumping the Broom" does a good job capturing this though sometimes the movie is exaggerated for effect. This is an appealing movie with a good cast and characters, some we might not like but we understand.
"Jumping the Broom" tells the story of Sabrina who we first see being played by a man after they have slept together. She finally meets Jason who she runs over with her car but they are instantly attracted to each other. After just a few months they become engaged and Sabrina has found her man. As they prepare their wedding Sabrina and her parents have not met Jason's family. They all get together at Sabrina's upper class parent's home on the lake for the wedding. After that there are some interesting plot developments.
Jason's family is very blue collar so we know at first there will be many cultural differences. Jason's mom brings her best friend along and the rest of the family. Mrs. Taylor does not like the snooty and rich Watsons especially Mrs. Watson. The rest of the film deals with the wedding preparation and the uneasiness between the Taylors and Watsons. Something shocking develops that I will not reveal and at first I didn't like this shift in the plot. After a while though it made the movie deeper than just a fluffy comedy. There are many important moral questions here that are asked and I felt the movie handled them well.
This is a movie produced by the Reverend TD Jakes and that is why the movie deals heavily with morality. TD Jakes is like a quieter, less showy version of Tyler Perry. Tyler Perry's biggest problem is the campy and over the top melodrama. His movies while entertaining can be exaggerated and fake and it would have taken the morality and made it highly theatrical. It took me about a dozen tries for me to fully like a Tyler Perry movie. With Jakes it took me just one try with his very good movie "Not easily Broken" and now with this second movie he is batting 100 for me.
Paula Patton has such a great smile, she is strikingly beautiful but always comes off as humble. She does a great job here and I hope she gets more opportunities to be a lead in many more movies. Angela Bassett is great as always and I love Loretta Devine here who is funny and when her character does something evil we don't hate her. The supporting cast is fine and Laz Alonso as Jason is fine though there is no star potential there like Patton has. Actually Gary Dourdan (TV's CSI) has breakout star potential as does his co star Megan Good. They form a very sexy subplot and I actually wouldn't mind a spin off movie based on them.
"Jumping the Broom" has it's problem but it's humor is appealing and I liked it's frankness and how it deals with relationships and morals. This is a movie about family and I like the messages Jakes is supplying with his movies as opposed to the sometimes minstrel show by Tyler Perry. It has a wonderful actress in Paula Patton, two reliable greats in Devine and Bassett and two sexy, promising future stars in Gary Dourdan and Megan Good. It also does not waver in it's appeal even when it gets very serious.
Friday, May 20, 2011
'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides'
'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' (PG-13) (2 stars)
Writers: Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane,
Keith Richards, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Kevin McNally, Sam Caflin
I admire the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies but I don't embrace them. When the first one came out I was surprised how good it was since it was based on a Disney theme ride (Remember "The Country Bears" movie?). The first one was fun thanks to the rip roaring old fashioned adventure and especially for Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow. Sparrow has become an iconic character in movies and deservedly so. Johnny Depp was amazing, funny and larger than life but the Pirate movies to me don't match his greatness.
The first movie was light fun but didn't deserve the cultural icon status it got. The two sequels were overlong, self indulgent and the action scenes were a mess. I don't get why the filmmakers think an action adventure fantasy needs to be over two and a half hours long! There was false ending after false ending and I couldn't follow any of the action. The fourth installment of the franchise is a step up from the two sequels but this gets old fast. There is nothing Depp does here as Sparrow he hasn't done umpteen times in the other movies. There has to come a time when a franchise has to end and this one has to end. A fourth or fifth movie in a franchise can be done very well, look at "The Fast and Furious" franchise. They came back this year and made the best movie in the series.
I don't need to explain the plot for it is basically Sparrow chasing after the fountain of youth. This time he teams up with an old flame Angelica played by Penelope Cruz who adds beauty but no personality here. Also in the chase are old adversary Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and new adversary Blackbeard (Ian McShane). There are a lot of swordfights and not one is different from the other. The direction is cluttered, the tone is darker which I actually liked but fans might find too dark. The movie takes place at night in the dark 3/4 of the time and Depp has played out the Sparrow character, I didn't laugh once. The movie has some beautiful visual 3D effects but the story drags a lot of the time.
The only sequence I loved was when the mermaids show up. There is a breathtakingly shot scene where mermaids start to appear in the dark. The mermaids are beautiful and start to sing lulling the pirates to serenity. Then they turn out to be cannibal mermaids, the scene is too scary for kids but I loved it. That brings me to a very dull love story subplot where one of the young pirates falls in love with a captured mermaid played by the gorgeous Astrid Berges-Frisbee. The two though turn out to be boring and kill the story. Now a main reason I don't love the Pirate movies was because of the Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley characters. The two characters were dull and Sparrow should have had a bigger part instead of the supporting part. Think back to the other movies, you remember any of the other characters besides Sparrow and the villians? I didn't think so.
Now the filmmakers have replaced those weak characters with two new ones just as weak. I like this movie better than the last two because finally they make the Jack Sparrow character the main focus instead of window dressing. The only thing is the writers have not written a story that matches the greatness of Johnny Depp or the Sparrow character. The movie turns out to be serviceable but totally forgettable. The movie is way too long again and the action and adventure is uninspired. I also believe fans will find this the weakest, they will wonder where all the daylight and fun went.
Writers: Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane,
Keith Richards, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Kevin McNally, Sam Caflin
I admire the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies but I don't embrace them. When the first one came out I was surprised how good it was since it was based on a Disney theme ride (Remember "The Country Bears" movie?). The first one was fun thanks to the rip roaring old fashioned adventure and especially for Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow. Sparrow has become an iconic character in movies and deservedly so. Johnny Depp was amazing, funny and larger than life but the Pirate movies to me don't match his greatness.
The first movie was light fun but didn't deserve the cultural icon status it got. The two sequels were overlong, self indulgent and the action scenes were a mess. I don't get why the filmmakers think an action adventure fantasy needs to be over two and a half hours long! There was false ending after false ending and I couldn't follow any of the action. The fourth installment of the franchise is a step up from the two sequels but this gets old fast. There is nothing Depp does here as Sparrow he hasn't done umpteen times in the other movies. There has to come a time when a franchise has to end and this one has to end. A fourth or fifth movie in a franchise can be done very well, look at "The Fast and Furious" franchise. They came back this year and made the best movie in the series.
I don't need to explain the plot for it is basically Sparrow chasing after the fountain of youth. This time he teams up with an old flame Angelica played by Penelope Cruz who adds beauty but no personality here. Also in the chase are old adversary Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and new adversary Blackbeard (Ian McShane). There are a lot of swordfights and not one is different from the other. The direction is cluttered, the tone is darker which I actually liked but fans might find too dark. The movie takes place at night in the dark 3/4 of the time and Depp has played out the Sparrow character, I didn't laugh once. The movie has some beautiful visual 3D effects but the story drags a lot of the time.
The only sequence I loved was when the mermaids show up. There is a breathtakingly shot scene where mermaids start to appear in the dark. The mermaids are beautiful and start to sing lulling the pirates to serenity. Then they turn out to be cannibal mermaids, the scene is too scary for kids but I loved it. That brings me to a very dull love story subplot where one of the young pirates falls in love with a captured mermaid played by the gorgeous Astrid Berges-Frisbee. The two though turn out to be boring and kill the story. Now a main reason I don't love the Pirate movies was because of the Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley characters. The two characters were dull and Sparrow should have had a bigger part instead of the supporting part. Think back to the other movies, you remember any of the other characters besides Sparrow and the villians? I didn't think so.
Now the filmmakers have replaced those weak characters with two new ones just as weak. I like this movie better than the last two because finally they make the Jack Sparrow character the main focus instead of window dressing. The only thing is the writers have not written a story that matches the greatness of Johnny Depp or the Sparrow character. The movie turns out to be serviceable but totally forgettable. The movie is way too long again and the action and adventure is uninspired. I also believe fans will find this the weakest, they will wonder where all the daylight and fun went.
Monday, May 16, 2011
'Bridesmaids'
'Bridesmaids' (R) (3 1/2 stars)
Writers: Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumalo
Director: Paul Feig
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Molly McCarthy,
Ellie Kemper, Chris O'Dowd, Wendi McLendon-Covey, John Hamm, Jill Clayburgh
The vulgar gross out comedy has been turned on it's ear with a little female empowerment! The boys usually get to play but now it's the women's turn in the brilliant, hilarious and touching "Bridesmaids". The movie has a great cast but the brilliant centerpiece of the movie is the amazing Kristen Wiig. She gives an awards worthy performance but also has co-written one of the smartest and funniest comedies in a decade.
"Bridesmaids" has to also be one of the best movies I have ever seen about friendship. The movie centers on the lonely and used Annie Walker who has a wonderful best friend in Lillian played by the underrated Maya Rudolph. Annie is also not lucky in business or in love. Her bakery has gone bankrupt and she is having a friends with benefits relationship with a louse wonderfully played by Jon Hamm. Her friend Lillian is getting married and now Annie is getting depressed.
Then Annie gets to meet the bridesmaids at a party and things get worse when she finds a rival for her friendship with Lillian. That rival is another bridesmaid, Helen Harris, and she is beautiful and so unbelievably sweet enough that you could get a toothache from being around her. In the first of a series of brilliant and side splitting scenes Annie tries to out do Helen in the congratulatory speech department. The other bridesmaids are brilliantly played by Ellie Kemper, Wendi McLendon Covey and Molly McCarthy.
Annie does find a romantic interest in a sweet and humble cop played very nicely by Chris O'Dowd. "Bridesmaids" is full of so many wonderful set pieces and hilarious scenes. What shocked me is how serious the movie can get and in a great way. This screenplay is so perceptive in it's look at friendship, love and committment. This is one of the best screenplays of the year and it is extremely funny and very touching.
Kristen Wiig has always been amazing on "Saturday Night Live" and is easily one of the funniest and most talented of this year's cast and of all the SNL casts in history. I was waiting for a big screen comedy to showcase how brilliant she is. When you are given lemonades like Wiig was given in so many movies like "Paul" go make lemonade by writing your own comedy. Wiig should be talked about heavily towards Oscar season but won't because Hollywood doesn't respect comedy performances. Her screenplay should definitely be nominated for it is the best comedy since "Superbad".
There are many hilarious scenes including one of the best gross out scenes since "Stand By Me" and "There's Something About Mary". All the women eat at a brazillian steak house and when they get dress fittings at a very expensive dress shop it is something special and extremely funny. My favorite scene had me crying buckets of tears something I have only done about five times in my movie going career. It is set on an airplane as Annie is given a pill to help her relax and then she is given a stiff drink. Her exchange with a flight attendant is priceless and right there if you don't believe Wiig is the Meryl Streep of comedy you definitely will after that scene and this movie.
There are more than a dozen side splitting scenes and the whole cast is pitch perfect. The movie is also stolen a lot by Molly McCarthy who plays the slob character Megan. She is not the typical large woman sterotype of comic character thanks to McCarthy and the screenplay. McCarthy also brings warmth and kindness to Megan making her a special character from the heart. But not only are McCarthy and Wiig brilliant, look at Rose Byrne's performance as the snooty Helen. It is a flawless performance and again like McCarthy she brings depth to the character as Helen becomes something more than first presented.
Add Ellie Kemper, Jon Hamm, Maya Rudolph, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Chris O'Dowd to this great cast and you have something special. I am not joking when I think Wiig should get awards love. Not only is she amazingly funny but when the movie gets serious she also gives one of the best dramatic performances of 2011. The movie has a lot of heart like the Farrelly Brothers earlier work and John Hughes movies. It is a side splitting, laugh till you cry comedy with deep and well written characters brilliantly played by a wonderful cast. Kristen Wiig is a national comedy treasure like Carol Burnett or Lucille Ball. I loved "The Hangover" but "Bridesmaids" I loved ten times more. I want to see this movie again, one of the funniest movies of the past ten years and the best commercial movie of 2011 so far.
P.S. Jill Clayburgh gives her final performance here as Annie's mom and I am glad I got to see her a final time. We will miss you!
Writers: Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumalo
Director: Paul Feig
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Molly McCarthy,
Ellie Kemper, Chris O'Dowd, Wendi McLendon-Covey, John Hamm, Jill Clayburgh
The vulgar gross out comedy has been turned on it's ear with a little female empowerment! The boys usually get to play but now it's the women's turn in the brilliant, hilarious and touching "Bridesmaids". The movie has a great cast but the brilliant centerpiece of the movie is the amazing Kristen Wiig. She gives an awards worthy performance but also has co-written one of the smartest and funniest comedies in a decade.
"Bridesmaids" has to also be one of the best movies I have ever seen about friendship. The movie centers on the lonely and used Annie Walker who has a wonderful best friend in Lillian played by the underrated Maya Rudolph. Annie is also not lucky in business or in love. Her bakery has gone bankrupt and she is having a friends with benefits relationship with a louse wonderfully played by Jon Hamm. Her friend Lillian is getting married and now Annie is getting depressed.
Then Annie gets to meet the bridesmaids at a party and things get worse when she finds a rival for her friendship with Lillian. That rival is another bridesmaid, Helen Harris, and she is beautiful and so unbelievably sweet enough that you could get a toothache from being around her. In the first of a series of brilliant and side splitting scenes Annie tries to out do Helen in the congratulatory speech department. The other bridesmaids are brilliantly played by Ellie Kemper, Wendi McLendon Covey and Molly McCarthy.
Annie does find a romantic interest in a sweet and humble cop played very nicely by Chris O'Dowd. "Bridesmaids" is full of so many wonderful set pieces and hilarious scenes. What shocked me is how serious the movie can get and in a great way. This screenplay is so perceptive in it's look at friendship, love and committment. This is one of the best screenplays of the year and it is extremely funny and very touching.
Kristen Wiig has always been amazing on "Saturday Night Live" and is easily one of the funniest and most talented of this year's cast and of all the SNL casts in history. I was waiting for a big screen comedy to showcase how brilliant she is. When you are given lemonades like Wiig was given in so many movies like "Paul" go make lemonade by writing your own comedy. Wiig should be talked about heavily towards Oscar season but won't because Hollywood doesn't respect comedy performances. Her screenplay should definitely be nominated for it is the best comedy since "Superbad".
There are many hilarious scenes including one of the best gross out scenes since "Stand By Me" and "There's Something About Mary". All the women eat at a brazillian steak house and when they get dress fittings at a very expensive dress shop it is something special and extremely funny. My favorite scene had me crying buckets of tears something I have only done about five times in my movie going career. It is set on an airplane as Annie is given a pill to help her relax and then she is given a stiff drink. Her exchange with a flight attendant is priceless and right there if you don't believe Wiig is the Meryl Streep of comedy you definitely will after that scene and this movie.
There are more than a dozen side splitting scenes and the whole cast is pitch perfect. The movie is also stolen a lot by Molly McCarthy who plays the slob character Megan. She is not the typical large woman sterotype of comic character thanks to McCarthy and the screenplay. McCarthy also brings warmth and kindness to Megan making her a special character from the heart. But not only are McCarthy and Wiig brilliant, look at Rose Byrne's performance as the snooty Helen. It is a flawless performance and again like McCarthy she brings depth to the character as Helen becomes something more than first presented.
Add Ellie Kemper, Jon Hamm, Maya Rudolph, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Chris O'Dowd to this great cast and you have something special. I am not joking when I think Wiig should get awards love. Not only is she amazingly funny but when the movie gets serious she also gives one of the best dramatic performances of 2011. The movie has a lot of heart like the Farrelly Brothers earlier work and John Hughes movies. It is a side splitting, laugh till you cry comedy with deep and well written characters brilliantly played by a wonderful cast. Kristen Wiig is a national comedy treasure like Carol Burnett or Lucille Ball. I loved "The Hangover" but "Bridesmaids" I loved ten times more. I want to see this movie again, one of the funniest movies of the past ten years and the best commercial movie of 2011 so far.
P.S. Jill Clayburgh gives her final performance here as Annie's mom and I am glad I got to see her a final time. We will miss you!
Monday, May 9, 2011
'The Beaver'
'The Beaver' (PG-13) (3 1/2 stars)
Writer: Kyle Killen
Director: Jodie Foster
Starring: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence,
Riley Thomas Stewart, Cherry Jones
Yes, "The Beaver" carries a lot of baggage with it and it is not an easy movie to watch but it hit me like Thor's hammer. I guess it is how you can take the very offbeat, dark subject matter. Oh the movie does get very serious towards the middle but the screenplay is compelling and thoughtfully written.
"The Beaver" tells the story of Walter Black who is in a very deep depression when we first see him. He is becoming estranged from his wife and two sons. He is told by his wife Meredith to move out until he can come back and be there for his family. Walter finds a beaver puppet in a dumpster, wakes up the next day and starts to talk through his puppet. He talks to everyone, his wife, sons and co workers through this beaver puppet with an Australian accent.
So in describing the story of "The Beaver" you are probably thinking I am not going to see this weird, dumb sounding movie. What will surprise many who are looking for something challenging like me is how powerful and smart this movie is. This is not just a movie about Walter talking through a puppet. It is about how depression carries through generations of a single family. It is about a son trying to find acceptance from not only his dad but from a girl he really likes in school. It is about how a marriage can be challenged by a partner who can't cope with life.
After a little bit I even forgot about the plot device of the beaver for the movie starts to get deeper and goes off in different, wonderful directions. I love that the movie is not cookie cutter or simple, depression is not a subject matter that can be handled easily with simple answers. I love Jodie Foster and the fact that she takes on difficult subject matter to direct like this and movies like "Home For the Holidays".
This mirrors her acting career and Foster never acted in easy movies that were Hollywood manufactured. Now you know why she is one of my favorite actresses.
I love movies like "The Beaver" that a lot of people will hate but that I crave. I love being challenged, I like offbeat material that has no rythym. I like movies that look through life in a realistic way, life's problems are not handled like they are in a sitcom and most movies. I was also moved by one of the movie's messages that I also believe in. At first you might think the movie is awkward and fake for Walter bringing in the beaver puppet to cope with his depression. You think that a doctor would never prescribe something outrageous like this. I didn't mind it because I believe what Walter does. I am not a very pro therapist, psychiatrist, medication person. I think you can only help yourself because no one will ever know what is inside your brain, no one! Also no pill can fix anyone's brain and more importantly no pill can fix your life's problems.
Okay I will now get off my soap box and tell you what transpires in the middle and end of this movie that made me forget about the beaver gimmick. I loved how the movie looked at Walter's past, his father's depression and then at how his older son is also starting to feel the effects of depression. I loved the sweet, smart and well written love story between Walter's son Porter and a girl in school played by the wonderful Jennifer Lawrence. Lawrence again proves she is a special actress that will always be great and Anton Yelchin as Porter gives his best performance. Jodie Foster and Kyle Killen have taken a deep screenplay and made a great emotional and rewarding movie.
I will get to the elephant in the room and comment on Mel Gibson's performance as Walter. I really don't care what an actor says or does in his personal life short of rape and murder. If I cared about what an actor or a celebrity said or did in their lives I wouldn't be going to half of the movies out there. Mel Gibson gives a very brave performance and is very effective here. It did not matter to me about Gibson's private mistakes watching him here. I thought his performance was real and he takes what could have been a disastrous performance and turns it into gold. I also love that Gibson uses his Australian accent, something he hasn't used since 1982 in "The Road Warrior".
There are some very well written scenes between Walter and his younger son, Walter and his wife and also between Porter and Norah, the girl he likes. There are some powerful looks at depression, marriage and the relationship betwen fathers and their kids. At the end I even forgot how jarring the plot development of the beaver puppet made me feel at first. There is also a very powerful and well written speech by Norah at the end of the movie that is flawlessly acted by Jennifer Lawrence that blew me away and choked me up. As I am writing this review "The Beaver" has still got me thinking and getting emotional. I don't know how Foster has done it but she has made one of the riskiest stories into one of the best movies of the year.
P.S. Earlier in my review I mentioned Foster's acting career and the wonderful choices she made of challenging, offbeat, dark movies to act in. I also loved that she took those choices and transformed them into the type of movies she looks for to direct. I am suggesting some movies to check out that star Foster that a lot of people haven't seen and they are some of my all time favorite movies.
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (76)
Bugsy Malone (80)
Foxes (80)
Carny (80)
Five Corners (88)
Writer: Kyle Killen
Director: Jodie Foster
Starring: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence,
Riley Thomas Stewart, Cherry Jones
Yes, "The Beaver" carries a lot of baggage with it and it is not an easy movie to watch but it hit me like Thor's hammer. I guess it is how you can take the very offbeat, dark subject matter. Oh the movie does get very serious towards the middle but the screenplay is compelling and thoughtfully written.
"The Beaver" tells the story of Walter Black who is in a very deep depression when we first see him. He is becoming estranged from his wife and two sons. He is told by his wife Meredith to move out until he can come back and be there for his family. Walter finds a beaver puppet in a dumpster, wakes up the next day and starts to talk through his puppet. He talks to everyone, his wife, sons and co workers through this beaver puppet with an Australian accent.
So in describing the story of "The Beaver" you are probably thinking I am not going to see this weird, dumb sounding movie. What will surprise many who are looking for something challenging like me is how powerful and smart this movie is. This is not just a movie about Walter talking through a puppet. It is about how depression carries through generations of a single family. It is about a son trying to find acceptance from not only his dad but from a girl he really likes in school. It is about how a marriage can be challenged by a partner who can't cope with life.
After a little bit I even forgot about the plot device of the beaver for the movie starts to get deeper and goes off in different, wonderful directions. I love that the movie is not cookie cutter or simple, depression is not a subject matter that can be handled easily with simple answers. I love Jodie Foster and the fact that she takes on difficult subject matter to direct like this and movies like "Home For the Holidays".
This mirrors her acting career and Foster never acted in easy movies that were Hollywood manufactured. Now you know why she is one of my favorite actresses.
I love movies like "The Beaver" that a lot of people will hate but that I crave. I love being challenged, I like offbeat material that has no rythym. I like movies that look through life in a realistic way, life's problems are not handled like they are in a sitcom and most movies. I was also moved by one of the movie's messages that I also believe in. At first you might think the movie is awkward and fake for Walter bringing in the beaver puppet to cope with his depression. You think that a doctor would never prescribe something outrageous like this. I didn't mind it because I believe what Walter does. I am not a very pro therapist, psychiatrist, medication person. I think you can only help yourself because no one will ever know what is inside your brain, no one! Also no pill can fix anyone's brain and more importantly no pill can fix your life's problems.
Okay I will now get off my soap box and tell you what transpires in the middle and end of this movie that made me forget about the beaver gimmick. I loved how the movie looked at Walter's past, his father's depression and then at how his older son is also starting to feel the effects of depression. I loved the sweet, smart and well written love story between Walter's son Porter and a girl in school played by the wonderful Jennifer Lawrence. Lawrence again proves she is a special actress that will always be great and Anton Yelchin as Porter gives his best performance. Jodie Foster and Kyle Killen have taken a deep screenplay and made a great emotional and rewarding movie.
I will get to the elephant in the room and comment on Mel Gibson's performance as Walter. I really don't care what an actor says or does in his personal life short of rape and murder. If I cared about what an actor or a celebrity said or did in their lives I wouldn't be going to half of the movies out there. Mel Gibson gives a very brave performance and is very effective here. It did not matter to me about Gibson's private mistakes watching him here. I thought his performance was real and he takes what could have been a disastrous performance and turns it into gold. I also love that Gibson uses his Australian accent, something he hasn't used since 1982 in "The Road Warrior".
There are some very well written scenes between Walter and his younger son, Walter and his wife and also between Porter and Norah, the girl he likes. There are some powerful looks at depression, marriage and the relationship betwen fathers and their kids. At the end I even forgot how jarring the plot development of the beaver puppet made me feel at first. There is also a very powerful and well written speech by Norah at the end of the movie that is flawlessly acted by Jennifer Lawrence that blew me away and choked me up. As I am writing this review "The Beaver" has still got me thinking and getting emotional. I don't know how Foster has done it but she has made one of the riskiest stories into one of the best movies of the year.
P.S. Earlier in my review I mentioned Foster's acting career and the wonderful choices she made of challenging, offbeat, dark movies to act in. I also loved that she took those choices and transformed them into the type of movies she looks for to direct. I am suggesting some movies to check out that star Foster that a lot of people haven't seen and they are some of my all time favorite movies.
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (76)
Bugsy Malone (80)
Foxes (80)
Carny (80)
Five Corners (88)
'Thor'
'Thor' (PG-13) (3 stars)
Writers: Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz and Dan Payne
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins,
Stellan Skarsgard, Kat Dennings, Tom Hiddleston, Rene Russo, Tadanobu Asano
Thor is not one of my favorites of the DC Comics characters but the filmmakers of the movie "Thor" do a very good job. I wasn't expecting a movie that mixes Shakespearean tragedy with Greek Mythology. The movie is old fashioned, goofy fun without being heavy handed. There is also some very funny humor in the movie and a touch of class with the casting and director. "Thor" is a damn good time at the movies and the way a fantasy movie or superhero movie should be done.
The movie is effective and much better than the "Clash of the Titans" remake and the awful "Troy". Thor is banished from his kingdom by his father King Odin (Hopkins) for disrupting the truce between his father and the Frost Giants. He is sent to earth where he is run over twice, in two very funny scenes by a crew of scientists. I was very worried at the start of "Thor" because it seemed like it was going to be hokey and silly. The first 20 minutes of this movie are shaky and then things start to catch on fire after that. The movie has too much exposition and talk with some goofy special effects. Then I started to get comfortable with the look and the excellent production design by veteran great Bo Welch.
The special effects also become very cool, much better than the ugly, shoddy look and effects of the Titans remake. The movie also has a very good looking and charismatic lead in Chris Hemsworth. Hemsworth is very well built and great at action scenes but he is also funny and can act. The movie's ace in the hole is Natalie Portman who bounces back from "Your Highness". You know a movie is usually smart with Portman in it and her Jane Foster character is well written. She does fall in love with Thor but not blindly. The movie also has pedigree thanks to it's director Kenneth Branagh.
There were many great surprises for me that I did not expect in a superhero movie called "Thor". First with Kenneth Branagh at the helm you get some classic tragedy and Shakespeare influence. It was a masterstroke to get someone like Branagh to direct. He brings his Shakepseare background to a very solid story here about Kingdoms, families and honor. I also didn't expect a smart love story and a quiet scene where Thor and Jane sit under the stars and have a sweet conversation. Imagine a thoughtful moment full of good dialogue in a loud superhero movie?
The story leads to a very cool and explosive battle at the end that is fun, exciting and extremely well directed. The ending has it all in action, effects and goofy thrills. You also have some great supporting turns including the very funny Kat Dennings. "Thor" is smart, fun, sweet, exciting and gave me that feeling I got when I was younger and sat through awesome superhero movies like "Superman II", my favorite superhero movie. "Thor" and "Ironman" have the same kind of talent behind them, directors like Jon Favreau and Kenneth Branagh who take these stories seriously and that is very good indeed.
P.S. If you stay all the way to the end of the credits you will see more build up for the upcoming "Avengers" movie. I don't know what it all means but it is getting me intrigued and excited.
Writers: Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz and Dan Payne
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins,
Stellan Skarsgard, Kat Dennings, Tom Hiddleston, Rene Russo, Tadanobu Asano
Thor is not one of my favorites of the DC Comics characters but the filmmakers of the movie "Thor" do a very good job. I wasn't expecting a movie that mixes Shakespearean tragedy with Greek Mythology. The movie is old fashioned, goofy fun without being heavy handed. There is also some very funny humor in the movie and a touch of class with the casting and director. "Thor" is a damn good time at the movies and the way a fantasy movie or superhero movie should be done.
The movie is effective and much better than the "Clash of the Titans" remake and the awful "Troy". Thor is banished from his kingdom by his father King Odin (Hopkins) for disrupting the truce between his father and the Frost Giants. He is sent to earth where he is run over twice, in two very funny scenes by a crew of scientists. I was very worried at the start of "Thor" because it seemed like it was going to be hokey and silly. The first 20 minutes of this movie are shaky and then things start to catch on fire after that. The movie has too much exposition and talk with some goofy special effects. Then I started to get comfortable with the look and the excellent production design by veteran great Bo Welch.
The special effects also become very cool, much better than the ugly, shoddy look and effects of the Titans remake. The movie also has a very good looking and charismatic lead in Chris Hemsworth. Hemsworth is very well built and great at action scenes but he is also funny and can act. The movie's ace in the hole is Natalie Portman who bounces back from "Your Highness". You know a movie is usually smart with Portman in it and her Jane Foster character is well written. She does fall in love with Thor but not blindly. The movie also has pedigree thanks to it's director Kenneth Branagh.
There were many great surprises for me that I did not expect in a superhero movie called "Thor". First with Kenneth Branagh at the helm you get some classic tragedy and Shakespeare influence. It was a masterstroke to get someone like Branagh to direct. He brings his Shakepseare background to a very solid story here about Kingdoms, families and honor. I also didn't expect a smart love story and a quiet scene where Thor and Jane sit under the stars and have a sweet conversation. Imagine a thoughtful moment full of good dialogue in a loud superhero movie?
The story leads to a very cool and explosive battle at the end that is fun, exciting and extremely well directed. The ending has it all in action, effects and goofy thrills. You also have some great supporting turns including the very funny Kat Dennings. "Thor" is smart, fun, sweet, exciting and gave me that feeling I got when I was younger and sat through awesome superhero movies like "Superman II", my favorite superhero movie. "Thor" and "Ironman" have the same kind of talent behind them, directors like Jon Favreau and Kenneth Branagh who take these stories seriously and that is very good indeed.
P.S. If you stay all the way to the end of the credits you will see more build up for the upcoming "Avengers" movie. I don't know what it all means but it is getting me intrigued and excited.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
'Fast Five'
'Fast Five' (PG-13) (3 stars)
Writer: Chris Morgan based on characters created by Gary Scott Thompson
Director: Justin Lin
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster,
Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Joaquin de Almeida, Elsa Pataky,
Cal Gadot, Matt Schulze
Somehow along the journey "The Fast and the Furious" movies lost their way. The first two movies were fine, the third one in Tokyo was boring and the fourth one was an embarrasment. The fourth movie was bad even on a car chase, action level with a story that was insulting. The third and fourth movies forgot what made the first two successful. They were glorified "B" movies and didn't try to be anything more. "Fast Five" gets the job done and I think might be the best one out of all the movies. The same group of filmmakers who made the fourth might agree with me for this fifth movie has improved the series vastly
"Fast Five" reunites the charisma free Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster as Dom, Brian and Mia. Brian and Mia break Dom out of a prison bus and they all head out to Brazil. That is a smart movie for this story to add a colorful third character in Brazil, more colorful than the three leads. The three also try to execute a robbery of cars from a train and are framed for the murder of DEA agents. They are being chased by a stubborn DSS agent, Luke Hobbs, for those murders while they plan another big heist. They also try to steal millions from a crooked businessman played by classic bad guy actor Joaquin de Almeida.
Dom and the gang need help on this robbery so they recruit past characters from the first four movies. That is another smart move because the movie is funnier and more charming for the addition of these fun characters. They are led by Tyrese Gibson and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges who steal the movie. They are both funny and have great chemistry and I think they should get their own movie spin off movie. The movie is also stolen by Dwayne Johnson who gives great line readings and sure can fight. I am a wrestling fan but I think Johnson should be in an action movie every year. He has more charisma and better screen presence than most action stars out there and he blows away Diesel and Walker.
With the large cast and great work by all especially Bridges and Gibson the movie delightfully comes off as an "Oceans Eleven" type movie. It is in fact better than the Oceans sequels and it also has the best chases and stunts out of the whole "Fast and the Furious" series. You also have two hot women to stare at in Elsa Pataky and Cal Gadot even though their acting isn't the best. That is also true of Diesel, Walker and Brewster who have never been that great of actors to begin with. This is one reason why Walker has never become a star in his career.
The movie has wonderful car chases and a great fight by Johnson and Diesel which are better than anything in "The Expendables". There is also a doozy of a car chase where Dom and Brian drive two cars that are tied up to a huge bank vault. They rip the vault out of the bank and drag it through the streets of Rio de Janeiro. I love how the cables tied to the vault take out a plethora of cars, power lines and trees. It is a long extended chase that is a lot of fun with spectacular stunts. I came in dreading seeing this movie after the last one but I was shocked. I had a hell of a fun time and thought it worked well. Now the creators need to quickly get on that spin off movie where Dwayne Johnson chases after Ludacris and Tyrese!
Writer: Chris Morgan based on characters created by Gary Scott Thompson
Director: Justin Lin
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster,
Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Joaquin de Almeida, Elsa Pataky,
Cal Gadot, Matt Schulze
Somehow along the journey "The Fast and the Furious" movies lost their way. The first two movies were fine, the third one in Tokyo was boring and the fourth one was an embarrasment. The fourth movie was bad even on a car chase, action level with a story that was insulting. The third and fourth movies forgot what made the first two successful. They were glorified "B" movies and didn't try to be anything more. "Fast Five" gets the job done and I think might be the best one out of all the movies. The same group of filmmakers who made the fourth might agree with me for this fifth movie has improved the series vastly
"Fast Five" reunites the charisma free Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster as Dom, Brian and Mia. Brian and Mia break Dom out of a prison bus and they all head out to Brazil. That is a smart movie for this story to add a colorful third character in Brazil, more colorful than the three leads. The three also try to execute a robbery of cars from a train and are framed for the murder of DEA agents. They are being chased by a stubborn DSS agent, Luke Hobbs, for those murders while they plan another big heist. They also try to steal millions from a crooked businessman played by classic bad guy actor Joaquin de Almeida.
Dom and the gang need help on this robbery so they recruit past characters from the first four movies. That is another smart move because the movie is funnier and more charming for the addition of these fun characters. They are led by Tyrese Gibson and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges who steal the movie. They are both funny and have great chemistry and I think they should get their own movie spin off movie. The movie is also stolen by Dwayne Johnson who gives great line readings and sure can fight. I am a wrestling fan but I think Johnson should be in an action movie every year. He has more charisma and better screen presence than most action stars out there and he blows away Diesel and Walker.
With the large cast and great work by all especially Bridges and Gibson the movie delightfully comes off as an "Oceans Eleven" type movie. It is in fact better than the Oceans sequels and it also has the best chases and stunts out of the whole "Fast and the Furious" series. You also have two hot women to stare at in Elsa Pataky and Cal Gadot even though their acting isn't the best. That is also true of Diesel, Walker and Brewster who have never been that great of actors to begin with. This is one reason why Walker has never become a star in his career.
The movie has wonderful car chases and a great fight by Johnson and Diesel which are better than anything in "The Expendables". There is also a doozy of a car chase where Dom and Brian drive two cars that are tied up to a huge bank vault. They rip the vault out of the bank and drag it through the streets of Rio de Janeiro. I love how the cables tied to the vault take out a plethora of cars, power lines and trees. It is a long extended chase that is a lot of fun with spectacular stunts. I came in dreading seeing this movie after the last one but I was shocked. I had a hell of a fun time and thought it worked well. Now the creators need to quickly get on that spin off movie where Dwayne Johnson chases after Ludacris and Tyrese!
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