Here is a great essay on Wes Anderson, including videos and analysis, from the Museum of the Moving Image as the first part of a 5 part series on the director.
Continue reading this postTuesday, March 31, 2009
News of the Week
1. Sascha Baron Cohen’s Bruno has been slapped with an NC-17. Full story here. It's common for films to be submitted to the MPAA with questionable stuff, so they can be cut down and receive an R. Scorsese did this with Casino and the infamous "head in a vice" scene. He only put it in the original cut to throw the MPAA a bone, but they didn't object.
Onward . . .
2. Shutter Island (Scorsese’s fall film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, Michelle Williams, Max von Sydow, Jackie Earle Haley, Elias Koteas, Patricia Clarkson, Ted Levine, and John Carroll Lynch) has its first ad.
I’ve heard there are a lot of surprises and developments in its source material (Dennis Lehane’s novel) so I’m avoiding all details until the film opens on Oct. 2, 2009
3. Composer Maurice Jarre has passed on at the age of 84. He won Oscars for 3 David Lean films (Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago, A Passage to India), but I’ll always remember him for 2 Peter Weir films (Witness, Dead Poets Society).
Pearl Jam - Ten Revisited
Watched this last night on VH1 Classic, and its a must for anyone between 29-40. Great shots of the band from its genesis and behind the scenes footage. Re-airing today from 1:00-1:30pm and tomorrow morning from 1:30-2:00am.
Monday, March 30, 2009
I Love You, Man B-
In Theatres, Rated R, 105 Minutes
Paul Rudd’s rocket-ascent from dependable second-fiddle to leading man continues upward with this by-the-numbers bromance. Rudd plays recently engaged and future perfect husband Peter Klavin. Only chink in his armor, he doesn’t have a best bud to be his best man. So, his future wife Zooey, (Rashida Jones, The Office) and her bevy of girlfriends decide to set him up on a series of man dates with the hope that he can fill out the bridal party in six months. While these attempts routinely (and in some cases, hysterically) fail, he stumbles into an unlikely friendship with unabashed guy Marshall Eriksen (Jason Segel, How I Met Your Mother). Needless to say, the friendship starts interfering with relat-time with his honey and Klavin has to make some not-so-difficult decisions.
While there’s nothing particularly new here, Rudd and Segel are pretty seriously funny dudes, Rashida Jones is endlessly likable, and the supporting cast is surprisingly solid—Jon Favreau, Jaime Pressly, J.K. Simmons, and Andy Samberg. Samberg, in particular, is funny as Peter’s gay brother who now only goes after straight guys because he likes the challenge, and Favreau and Pressly play an “old” married couple to perfection. Still, the jokes get weaker and the film continues and the portrayal of how guys “really” are goes a little over-the-top. There are some conversations guys don’t have, actually, and even Segel and Rudd can’t sell those.
B-
Hitchens on Texas
All Christopher Hitchens columns and essays are worth reading, but this one in particular is great - he discusses Texas, evangelicals, textbooks and creation.
Continue reading this postChris Cornell - Dallas, March 28, 2009
At House of Blues.
What a difference a chair makes. After being blown away at 2007's Chris Cornell concert at the same venue, this one was a bit of a letdown. For starters, Appraiser and I had seats in 2007, but were standing in 2009 - which meant that the 2 hours between the end of opener Outernational's set and the beginning of Cornell's set were excruciating for my legs and tolerance of other concertgoers. His voice is still amazing, but a weird recent album (produced by Timbaland) plus a bad setlist and a way too hammy backing band left me unsatisfied. Click below for more Cornell:
For starters, there must have been a delay because the lights were brought down 3 or 4 times during the dreaded 2 hour interval, only to go back up - resulting in the very rare booing before a concert. Once onstage, Cornell's new hairdo was reminiscent of a nerdy female extra on the 90's version of Beverly Hills 90210. He launched into a couple of okayish songs from his most recent album and then killed me with too obscure early Soundgarden tracks. Only after 45 minutes did he start hitting his stride with me, singing Hunger Strike, Be Yourself, Billy Jean, Outshined, Fell On Black Days (best of concert), and a medley of great songs (Stairway to Heaven, Sunday Bloody Sunday and All Along the Watchtower). He also did the Soundgarden song from the Singles soundtrack, another highlight.
The backing band was super goofy and way too involved in the show - my favorite parts were when it was just Cornell and the guitar. Oh, and I realize that I am too old to stand for 4 hours.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
DVD Releases - 3/31/09
The Butterfly Effect: Revelations
Marley & Me - #
Ricky Gervais: Out of England – The Stand-Up Special
Seven Pounds - #
Slumdog Millionaire - #
Tell No One - #
Click below for this week's Blu-ray releases
An American in Paris - *
Chronicles of Riddick & Pitch Black (2 Pack)
Ghosts of Mars
Gigi
The Matrix - *
South Pacific
# - Also on Blu-Ray
* - Doctor Approved
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Recent DVD Releases
Lawyer went to AFI Dallas almost a year ago (when he had internet access – HiYo!) and came back with a couple of movie reviews that just recently became available on DVD.
What Just Happened?
Like lawyer, I mostly enjoyed this insider’s look at how the Hollywood system works. Robert De Niro is pretty great (finally!) as a producer trying to finish one film and start another. Bruce Willis, Robin Wright, and Catherine Keener provide great support. It’s not crazy enough to be memorable and the title is terrible. B
Onward . . .
Battle in Seattle
Lawyer was probably a little too kind in his review. Of course, if I saw Charlize Theron in person, my mind (among other things) wouldn’t be working properly for a week or so. Not enough time is spent with the characters or their motivations to make them relatable. The movie wants to be a documentary, a political statement, and a relationship drama – and spreads itself too thin to be effective. I liked lawyer’s point about how the riots actually prevented the progress the protesters sought. C+
I don’t know how Priest got stuck on “crap detail”, but here are three that he tried to warn everyone about. I wish I had listened.
Transporter 3
Some OK action scenes, but a ludicrous plot and the most annoying female character of the year. – C
Max Payne
Drug companies bad! Military bad! Max Payne dumb! – C-
Death Race
The worst of the 3 since it wastes the considerable talents of Joan Allen, who’s obviously cashing a paycheck. And Ian McShane obviously has 3-4 alimony payments to make to be signing up for this. Director Paul W.S. Anderson continues his run of soulless, nihilistic, violent action films. The difference between “W.S.” and “T.” couldn’t be greater. D+
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Lewis Black
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | M - Th 11p / 10c | |||
| Back in Black - Recession Winners | ||||
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I can't get enough of this guy. I find his exasperated anger and line delivery hilarious. He also goes after all sides of the political spectrum with equal fervor. That clip of Arnold smoking pot is from Pumping Iron (1976).
Continue reading this post
Odds and Ends
This slipped past last month but The Lonely Island (Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone) released an album last month called "Incredibad". It includes the Natalie Portman rap, J!zz in My Pants, and I'm on a Boat. Usually funny, sometimes hilarious, always creative. The album's available on I-Tunes. The group is behind Hot Rod, which I just watched again (Danny McBride is one of the friends - and pretty funny). I stick by my original (somewhat controversial) brief review.
Click below for a Let the Right One In update.
Here is a healthy discussion (with some spoilers) of the apparently disastrous subtitles on my only recent rave. I avoided all plot points after the first 15-20 minutes because I loved all the twists and turns. At the time, I was more impressed with the direction than the script and maybe this is why. The company will make a DVD/Blu-ray version of the geek-approved theatrical subtitled version soon, which I will be picking up. Glad I rented first.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Flight of the Conchords - "Evicted"
Season 2, Episode 10 (Finale)
So the team had only 7-8 good-great episodes in them (like last year). The worst Conchords song ever (even worse than Bowie!) had Bret as a Russian victim of cannibalism. The beginning and ending "natural sounds" percussion scenes were fine, but the potentially interesting domestic situation with Mel was mostly wasted. The harp thing didn't work, but it was nice to see Doug get some airtime. And Dave is always welcome.
If the show doesn't return for a third season (and let's hope that it does), the ending is ideal. But how they got there (their landlord not cashing any of their checks for 2 years) is certainly farfetched. This is the only episode over the past 10 weeks that I don't feel like watching again. I can't wait for the Season 2 DVD release (in August).
Monday, March 23, 2009
DVD Releases - 3/24/09
Big Stan - #
Bolt - #
The Cake Eaters
Columbus Day
The Last Metro (Criterion) - #
Passengers
Quantum of Solace - #, *
Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freight and Under the Hood - #
Click below for the week's Blu-ray releases
The 400 Blows (Criterion) - * (Doc's pick of the week)
Fast and the Furious Trilogy
Goldfinger - *
James Bond Collection Volume 3 (Goldfinger, Moonraker, The World is Not Enough)
The Kite Runner
A Mighty Heart
Moonraker
Never Say Never Again
Things We Lost in the Fire
The World in Not Enough
Rock of Love - Bus
VH-1 on Sunday nights.
After Doc's slew of quality reviews of quality films, I thought I'd post about the other show I watch (Conchords and 30 Rock are the other two) to add some levity. Rock of Love Bus follows Bret Michaels and his Bachelor-esque show wherein he sifts through 20 skanks to find true 'love'. I hate reality tv (except the Soup), but for some reason, the campiness, bizarre social rules, and idiocracy quotes are too much for me to miss. Worth watching - my favorite moments so far are when certain girls are kicked off the show because they are TOO skanky for the show.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Let the Right One In - A-
On DVD and Blu-ray
I’m not a vampire or horror movie fan but make exceptions when a film comes along as brilliantly conceived and shot as this. A great film is a great film, no matter the genre. In 1982 Sweden, 12 year old Oskar is constantly being bullied at school. A girl roughly his age moves into his apartment building and since they have a lot in common (loneliness, distant father figures), they strike up a quick friendship. It’s clear to the viewer (but not Oskar) she’s a vampire immediately – she appears suddenly, covers large distances quickly, and is only seen at night. She lives with an older male vampire, who’s getting careless with his victims - leaving all kinds of evidence and sometimes witnesses at the crime scenes . . .
The snowy exteriors and overbearing coldness is felt intensely and the characters carry the same kind of depressed faces seen in The Lives of Others. (In the supplemental DVD material, director Tomas Alfredson says that Sweden was about half behind the iron curtain at that time.) Alfredson uses streetlights terrifically in the nighttime scenes, creating shadows that contribute to the ominous mood. His use windows and reflections contributes to the character connections. The sound design is inventive, sometimes startling, but never distracting. The music is surprisingly touching as 2 lost souls try to find happiness in a lonely world. Unlike most Hollywood movies that overwhelm you with orchestral arrangements, a single piano is used, then a single guitar (shades of The Deer Hunter) - giving the film an uncommon depth. The performances of the children are perfectly understated, also staying out of the way of a terrific story and flawless direction.
There’s some blood, of course, and some gore, but the creativity and tension found in the action scenes make it hardly noticeable. The climax is one of the most memorable scenes of the decade, unique and profound. If I were giving out a 2008 Best Director prize, it would go to Alfredson. I’m still grappling with what the film is trying to say (if anything - and it doesn't have to). The Dark Knight goes after America’s response to terrorism perfectly, but the fact that an occasionally gory, Swedish-language (subtitled) vampire movie with 2 child leads is vying for my best film of 2008 slot should speak volumes about this film’s quality. (And there’s a Two-Face in this film too – sort of) A-
Updated Best Films of 2008
1. The Dark Knight
2. Let the Right One In
3. Synecdoche, New York
4. Wall-E
5. Man on Wire
6. In Bruges
7. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
8. Tropic Thunder
9. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about His Father
10. Burn After Reading
Still need to see Frozen River, Tell No One and The Wrestler which may alter the list. I also haven’t seen Changeling, Doubt, Frost/Nixon, Happy-Go-Lucky, Priceless, or The Reader, but don’t expect any of them to make a dent.
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about His Father – B+
On DVD and Netflix Instant Viewing
In November 2001, Family Medicine resident Dr. Andrew Bagby was found murdered in Keystone State Park outside Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The only suspect and ex-girlfriend, Dr. Shirley Turner, fled the country to Newfoundland and then announced she was pregnant with his child. Bagby’s childhood friend and filmmaker Kurt Kuenne decided to travel across the country and interview everyone who knew Bagby so his unborn son would know something about his father. The extradition of Turner to the US was prolonged due to the incompetent Canadian Legal System. Then she abused the system further with an ensuing custody battle for her son (Zachary) with Bagby’s parents (David and Kathleen) . . .
The majority of the events occur between 2001 and 2003 and it took another 5 years to Kuenne to assemble all the footage; he admits he did not know when and how to end the film. The editing creatively combines snippets of home movies and interviews for comedic effect as well as contradictory evidence to something that just preceded it (a la JFK). But, there’s probably too much editing which gets distracting. A story this sensational that encompasses doctors, lawyers, a priest, and much more doesn’t need anything too flashy. But Kuenne does a good job of explaining the complexities of the case and its timeline. His one-sidedness and anger is justified and the actions of the Canadian court officials are obviously indefensible.
But the real strength of the film is its emotionally cathartic juggernaut of an ending. The message of appreciating your family and friends is simple and obvious, but has rarely been sent this well. Kuenne also provides the music, and while it’s a little too Schindler’s List-y, it works. There’s a lot going on here: frustration, laughs, anger, love, and hate - sometimes simultaneously. There’s also a subtle acknowledgement of the dissolution of the American family, which can lead to extensive and long-lasting devastation. B+
Saturday, March 21, 2009
South Park - "The Coon"
South Park had a pretty great Dark Knight parody this week where Cartman dressed up in a ridiculous costume and attacked "criminals" at night. He gets some competition by another "superhero" later in the episode. The copying of of Christian Bales's Batman voice is hilarious.
See the full episode here.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Elegy - B+
On DVD, Blu-ray, and Netflix Instant viewing
Ben Kingsley is a long-time divorced New York college professor who likes to discuss hot co-eds with his long-time colleague and friend (the Pulitzer Prize winning poetry professor) Dennis Hopper. He occasionally appears on public television to discuss books (a faux interview with Charlie Rose opens the film). A new student (Penelope Cruz) catches Kingsley’s eye and he uses his fame and influence to spark a relationship. But he finds himself in uncharted waters when he falls in love with her . . .
Kingsley continues his late career resurgence (which began with Sexy Beast). He’s charming, intense, and eventually touching when tragedy inevitably strikes. Cruz has grown into quite an accomplished actress. Her character’s arc (at least how Kingsley perceives her) from beautiful and sexy to substantial and authentic matches her career. She reveals her breasts several times during the film, but it’s impossible to look at them the same way at the beginning and the end. Indeed, one man’s journey from shallow, self-absorbed womanizer to honorable, committed gentleman can (and should) be extrapolated to mankind at large. One of the most interesting ideas in the film is that beautiful woman are invisible because you never really see them. You can’t see past the surface to get to the real person.
There are other great lines and insights, many literary discussions, and brushes of high culture (plays, paintings, etc). The music consists of tastefully chosen (and more importantly, rarely heard) compositions from Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi, etc. The film is based on the 2001 novel by Philip Roth and adapted for the screen by Nicolas Meyer (Star Trek 2, 4, and 6!). The film is centered on a man and his obsessions, but surprisingly directed by a woman. Barcelona native Isabel Coixet has a great eye for slow camera movement and rich cinematography. She repeats image compositions which comments on Kingsley’s stagnant life. There are some nice editing touches that force the viewer to pay attention. Everything from top to bottom is intelligently done, including the supporting performances. Hopper gives his best performance in years and Peter Sarsgaard matches Kingley’s intensity in a few short scenes as his doctor son. You probably have to be at least 30 to begin to appreciate this. And the older you are, the more you’ll probably like it. Elegy is elegant. B+
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Christopher Hitchens in Dallas
This Saturday at 1:00 pm, Hitchens will be debating the existence and role of Christianity in the past and present at the Christian Book Expo. I'll be there.
Continue reading this postTuesday, March 17, 2009
The Fall - B-
On DVD
In 1920s Los Angeles, a young man at a long term health facility tells an elaborate story to a young girl about 5 multi-cultural fugitives joining forces to take down a common adversary. The hospital scenes are pedantic and borderline pedophilic. The acting by Oklahoma native Lee Pace and 10 year old Catinca Untaru (whose Romanian accent will get on your last nerve) is labored and distracting at best. But the fantasy sequences are visually astounding. Director Tarsem fills the film with bright colors, interesting angles and lines, and nice textures in every frame - each one almost worth framing. The story has too many twists and the film occasionally feels like The Princess Bride on acid with a similar storytelling device . . .
Tarsem’s similarly titled last film The Cell also suited the ex video director’s sensibility with Jennifer Lopez entering a serial killer’s imagination, thereby giving the director ample opportunity to create amazing visuals. That film is more complete than this one however, with better acting, a coherent plot, and a much more satisfying ending. The Fall never becomes anything but a bunch of beautiful images. However, any film that ends with a montage of some of Buster Keaton’s best stunts can’t be all bad. B-
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