The Trailer Park is a monthly feature reserved for trailers or synopsis that:
A) caused me to make that teenage girl sound, "meh"
B) the synopsis didn't warrant a trailer viewing
C) content I had no interest in
D) trailers viewed that evoked nothing
E) trailers that were so forgettable that by the time I was ready to review them, I couldn't even remember the title of the film
F) All of the above
G) None of the above
Think of the Trailer Park as a public service....
So, in no particular order, I give you this months installment of Trailer Park:
In Time (still playing and still looks like Justin Timberlake crap)
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (seriously?)
The Darkest Hour (a lost hour and a half)
Johnny English Reborn (didn't know he was born and hadn't heard that he died)
Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl (more Bollywood cheese and the longest synopsis ever)
Thanks for reading.
Saturday, 31 December 2011
VIEWED: Carnage
My recommendation for this one was...
"I hope to see this film over the holidays, just to kill my festive spirit."
The only thing this film killed was my desire to see another new Polanski film.
Just to recap...
Carnage is the story of two couples, parents of school-aged children, who meet after one of the children hits the other in the face with a stick. It appears that the entire story takes place in one couple's home, making this much like a stage play - like Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe.
As the afternoon meeting progresses, the thin veil of civility slowly drops. Add alcohol into the mix and personal issues within each relationship begin to arise. More alcohol, less civility... Is Polanski showing us how ugly his personal life is/was by showing us how ugly we are beneath our social conventions?
The short answer is: Yes. But Roman, what you did is still wrong by any moral standard.
While the acting was good, the 1:15 minute film (that seemed much longer) confirmed in my mind that Polanski made this film as a f**k you to social convention rather than to entertain anyone but himself.
"I hope to see this film over the holidays, just to kill my festive spirit."
The only thing this film killed was my desire to see another new Polanski film.
Just to recap...
Carnage is the story of two couples, parents of school-aged children, who meet after one of the children hits the other in the face with a stick. It appears that the entire story takes place in one couple's home, making this much like a stage play - like Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe.
As the afternoon meeting progresses, the thin veil of civility slowly drops. Add alcohol into the mix and personal issues within each relationship begin to arise. More alcohol, less civility... Is Polanski showing us how ugly his personal life is/was by showing us how ugly we are beneath our social conventions?
The short answer is: Yes. But Roman, what you did is still wrong by any moral standard.
While the acting was good, the 1:15 minute film (that seemed much longer) confirmed in my mind that Polanski made this film as a f**k you to social convention rather than to entertain anyone but himself.
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol
Say what you want about Tom Cruise, the guy has made some classic movies. From Risky Business to Top Gun to Magnolia to Jerry Maguire to Eyes Wide Shut (which I really liked)... I also liked Collateral, Minority Report and even The Last Samurai.
But the role that made me laugh and say, "damn, not only can Cruise act but he isn't taking himself too seriously," was the producer in Tropic Thunder. Brilliant role AND the dude can dance.
Cruise just keeps making good (rarely great) but good, entertaining movies. There's often very cool action and, even when there isn't, this dude can act (sure, there have been a few bombs). I hear so much anti-Tom Cruise sentiment and yet he continues to consistently deliver. Box office returns and entertainment value is a winning formula (right Lightening?).
So, does one judge him by his weird personal persona and shit that he's pulled? Does one judge Polanski, Gibson or Allen despite their great works? Well, yes we judge them, but does that make their work any less significant?
Shawn of the Dead is in this one. I watched Shawn of the Dead again on Netflix (Netflix Canada really sucks).
The trailer for MI: 4 is really great. A super spy action hero, should he choose to accept an "impossible" mission is charged with saving face, grace, honour, integrity and, of course, the world. The stunts look awesome. The MI franchise continues to deliver while the Bond franchise continues to deliver cold pizza: some people still like it, but it ain't the same as hot...
Yeah, I have no doubt that this one will deliver and I have no doubt that I'll see it, hopefully soon.
But the role that made me laugh and say, "damn, not only can Cruise act but he isn't taking himself too seriously," was the producer in Tropic Thunder. Brilliant role AND the dude can dance.
Cruise just keeps making good (rarely great) but good, entertaining movies. There's often very cool action and, even when there isn't, this dude can act (sure, there have been a few bombs). I hear so much anti-Tom Cruise sentiment and yet he continues to consistently deliver. Box office returns and entertainment value is a winning formula (right Lightening?).
So, does one judge him by his weird personal persona and shit that he's pulled? Does one judge Polanski, Gibson or Allen despite their great works? Well, yes we judge them, but does that make their work any less significant?
Shawn of the Dead is in this one. I watched Shawn of the Dead again on Netflix (Netflix Canada really sucks).
The trailer for MI: 4 is really great. A super spy action hero, should he choose to accept an "impossible" mission is charged with saving face, grace, honour, integrity and, of course, the world. The stunts look awesome. The MI franchise continues to deliver while the Bond franchise continues to deliver cold pizza: some people still like it, but it ain't the same as hot...
Yeah, I have no doubt that this one will deliver and I have no doubt that I'll see it, hopefully soon.
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
In 2009, a friend invited me to see a film called, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I hadn't read, nor even heard of the Stieg Larsson Millennium Trilogy, so I had no idea what to expect. I was blown away by the intensity of this film. It was disturbing and graphic but every scene seemed necessary and enhanced a very intricate story. I thought it was a great film. The subtitles didn't detract from the film in any way.
The trailer on IMDB for the 2011 version is 3:40 long. In almost five months of Beerbohmtastic, it wins the award for longest trailer ever. BUT... I think it was that long so that it could show that it is word-for-word, scene-for-scene, set-for-set, exactly the same as the original, which is only two years old. Whether it is exactly the same is left to be seen.
I'm not a fan of Daniel Craig. His Bond is about as sharp as a sack of wet mice (Foghorn Leghorn). He was good in Munich and very good in Defiance. No doubt he can act, but the Bond thing was annoying. I can't wait to avoid seeing the next Bond film. This is sad to me because I used to love the franchise.
The 2009 film was really, really good. If the 2011 film is an exact copy, but in English, then is that really a bad thing? AND it's directed by David Fincher! This is the dude that directed Fight Club, Se7en, and one of the wife's favourites, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The thing about Benjamin Button is that the original short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald is way shorter than the movie by Fincher. The wife smacked me for making that comment as we exited the theatre.
I always say (well, Huss does) that it's better to remake a bad movie, well, than to remake a good movie badly. I'm not sure how this applies to remaking a good foreign film exactly the same but in English...
I'll see this one just to compare the two and will report back.
The trailer on IMDB for the 2011 version is 3:40 long. In almost five months of Beerbohmtastic, it wins the award for longest trailer ever. BUT... I think it was that long so that it could show that it is word-for-word, scene-for-scene, set-for-set, exactly the same as the original, which is only two years old. Whether it is exactly the same is left to be seen.
I'm not a fan of Daniel Craig. His Bond is about as sharp as a sack of wet mice (Foghorn Leghorn). He was good in Munich and very good in Defiance. No doubt he can act, but the Bond thing was annoying. I can't wait to avoid seeing the next Bond film. This is sad to me because I used to love the franchise.
The 2009 film was really, really good. If the 2011 film is an exact copy, but in English, then is that really a bad thing? AND it's directed by David Fincher! This is the dude that directed Fight Club, Se7en, and one of the wife's favourites, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The thing about Benjamin Button is that the original short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald is way shorter than the movie by Fincher. The wife smacked me for making that comment as we exited the theatre.
I always say (well, Huss does) that it's better to remake a bad movie, well, than to remake a good movie badly. I'm not sure how this applies to remaking a good foreign film exactly the same but in English...
I'll see this one just to compare the two and will report back.
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Young Adult
I watched this trailer twice because I wasn't sure if Charlize Theron's character was serious or just suffering from delusions, cluelessness or possibly narcissistic personality disorder. The background music in the trailer is David Bowie's, Queen Bitch from his 1972 album, Hunky Dory, so is this a tell?
Diablo Cody, who also wrote Juno, which was cute and clever, is likely cute and clever.
Young Adult is the story of a relatively successful writer who returns to her hometown because she wants to rekindle a high school romance. There are two problems. The first is that he is happily married and has a new baby and the second is that she feels that he is the right one for her and doesn't care if she ruins his marriage. In the trailer Charlize is a delusional bitch and is called that by others.
Charlize is a hot, Oscar winning actress that has made some very interesting movies but also played a developmentally delayed woman about to have a fling with Michael in Arrested Development - that was an odd choice.
I'm not sure what I think of Patrick Wilson. I liked him as Night Owl in Watchmen, but in other things I've seen him in he's hit and miss.
Judging by the trailer, which is the point of this blog, I didn't find this story interesting, intriguing or even clever. That said, I want to give Diablo Cody the benefit of the doubt because I can't imagine that this story is as pointless as the trailer looks.
Diablo Cody, who also wrote Juno, which was cute and clever, is likely cute and clever.
Young Adult is the story of a relatively successful writer who returns to her hometown because she wants to rekindle a high school romance. There are two problems. The first is that he is happily married and has a new baby and the second is that she feels that he is the right one for her and doesn't care if she ruins his marriage. In the trailer Charlize is a delusional bitch and is called that by others.
Charlize is a hot, Oscar winning actress that has made some very interesting movies but also played a developmentally delayed woman about to have a fling with Michael in Arrested Development - that was an odd choice.
I'm not sure what I think of Patrick Wilson. I liked him as Night Owl in Watchmen, but in other things I've seen him in he's hit and miss.
Judging by the trailer, which is the point of this blog, I didn't find this story interesting, intriguing or even clever. That said, I want to give Diablo Cody the benefit of the doubt because I can't imagine that this story is as pointless as the trailer looks.
Friday, 16 December 2011
VIEWED: I Melt With You
My recommendation for this one was...
"I Melt With You is a very bad title, given what the trailer implies about the story. While I'm not judging this movie by its title, only by its trailer, I'm strangely curious about this one. Maybe I'll catch it at the Rainbow on a Tuesday."
At home, sick in bed with the flu, I was bored and stumbled upon this film on-line, while sadly becoming bored with the old episodes of Kolchak: The Night Stalker I enjoyed in re-run form as a kid. At the time, Kolchak must have been cutting edge and quite scary, but by today's standards it looks kind of silly. A reporter walking around chasing monsters and aliens with a "pocket" camera and "portable" tape recorder strapped around his neck, while dragging around a "portable" typewriter. These devices look ridiculous given the technology age we live in. My point is that we often idealise our memories only to be disappointed when we try to re-live them. Ironically, this is an underlying theme in I Melt With You.
My assessment of the trailer was accurate in some ways and way off in others. I Melt With You is a much better film than Very Bad Things and I Know What You Did Last Summer. I feel dumb for the comparison.
POSSIBLE SPOILER:
This film is very well acted. I thought Rob Lowe and the fourth guy were stand outs. Jane and Piven were very good, too. The concept is that, as young men, they make a pact and in twenty-five years, if their lives haven't turned out the way they had hoped, then they must share an experience. To further skew their perception, they come to the realisation, albeit too late, that their positive memories are all drug induced.
Well, each character is a failure in some way. But who in their 40's has the life they had envisioned in their teens? Very few, I imagine. Though the payoff or "secret" in I melt with you is kind of extreme, I think the film will strike a chord with most men and some women over 35.
I still don't like the title.
"I Melt With You is a very bad title, given what the trailer implies about the story. While I'm not judging this movie by its title, only by its trailer, I'm strangely curious about this one. Maybe I'll catch it at the Rainbow on a Tuesday."
At home, sick in bed with the flu, I was bored and stumbled upon this film on-line, while sadly becoming bored with the old episodes of Kolchak: The Night Stalker I enjoyed in re-run form as a kid. At the time, Kolchak must have been cutting edge and quite scary, but by today's standards it looks kind of silly. A reporter walking around chasing monsters and aliens with a "pocket" camera and "portable" tape recorder strapped around his neck, while dragging around a "portable" typewriter. These devices look ridiculous given the technology age we live in. My point is that we often idealise our memories only to be disappointed when we try to re-live them. Ironically, this is an underlying theme in I Melt With You.
My assessment of the trailer was accurate in some ways and way off in others. I Melt With You is a much better film than Very Bad Things and I Know What You Did Last Summer. I feel dumb for the comparison.
POSSIBLE SPOILER:
This film is very well acted. I thought Rob Lowe and the fourth guy were stand outs. Jane and Piven were very good, too. The concept is that, as young men, they make a pact and in twenty-five years, if their lives haven't turned out the way they had hoped, then they must share an experience. To further skew their perception, they come to the realisation, albeit too late, that their positive memories are all drug induced.
Well, each character is a failure in some way. But who in their 40's has the life they had envisioned in their teens? Very few, I imagine. Though the payoff or "secret" in I melt with you is kind of extreme, I think the film will strike a chord with most men and some women over 35.
I still don't like the title.
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Carnage
The trailer for Carnage made me think of Edward Albee's, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe. I hold Albee in the highest regard, as I do Mamet, Beckett, Bukowski, Thompson and DeVito, to name a few. Story tellers who need few props or gimmicks to deliver tension, conflict - I believe the term is "character driven." Anyway, I love character driven stories with good dialogue.
Funny and kind of surprising, that this a Roman Polanski film. Surprising because I thought he was in jail somewhere - should one separate an interesting professional career from a sketchy personal life? I guess you could put Woody Allen in the same category.
Funny because I mentioned Polanski in my review of Shame. I made reference to his film Bitter Moon. Bitter Moon is a film that every man should see. It's a film about a man who's relationship with a beautiful young woman, for him, is based on sex. For her, it is more than that - she is in love. After he finally dumps her, and I think he tries a few times, she is truly devastated. Very shortly afterwards, he has an accident and becomes a paraplegic. She takes on the role of care giver and, as he is now fully dependent on her, she is in control... "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned..." Imagine your worst fears within this scenario and you have a powerful and disturbing film.
Carnage is the story of two couples, parents of school-aged children, who meet after one of the children hits the other in the face with a stick. It appears that the entire story takes place in one couple's home, making this much like a stage play - like Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe.
As the afternoon meeting progresses, the thin veil of civility slowly drops. Add alcohol into the mix and personal issues within each relationship begin to arise. More alcohol, less civility... Is Polanski showing us how ugly his personal life is/was by showing us how ugly we are beneath our social conventions?
The trailer looks like an examination of parenthood, relationships, social dynamics amidst the deconstruction of civility. The children and the incident that brought the couples together are much less important than the interaction between the adults. In the end, the trailer doesn't give away the outcome. Do the relationships survive? Given that this is a Polanski film, I trust that the children will get over the incident long before the adults get over their afternoon together.
I hope to see this film over the holidays, just to kill my festive spirit.
Funny and kind of surprising, that this a Roman Polanski film. Surprising because I thought he was in jail somewhere - should one separate an interesting professional career from a sketchy personal life? I guess you could put Woody Allen in the same category.
Funny because I mentioned Polanski in my review of Shame. I made reference to his film Bitter Moon. Bitter Moon is a film that every man should see. It's a film about a man who's relationship with a beautiful young woman, for him, is based on sex. For her, it is more than that - she is in love. After he finally dumps her, and I think he tries a few times, she is truly devastated. Very shortly afterwards, he has an accident and becomes a paraplegic. She takes on the role of care giver and, as he is now fully dependent on her, she is in control... "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned..." Imagine your worst fears within this scenario and you have a powerful and disturbing film.
Carnage is the story of two couples, parents of school-aged children, who meet after one of the children hits the other in the face with a stick. It appears that the entire story takes place in one couple's home, making this much like a stage play - like Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe.
As the afternoon meeting progresses, the thin veil of civility slowly drops. Add alcohol into the mix and personal issues within each relationship begin to arise. More alcohol, less civility... Is Polanski showing us how ugly his personal life is/was by showing us how ugly we are beneath our social conventions?
The trailer looks like an examination of parenthood, relationships, social dynamics amidst the deconstruction of civility. The children and the incident that brought the couples together are much less important than the interaction between the adults. In the end, the trailer doesn't give away the outcome. Do the relationships survive? Given that this is a Polanski film, I trust that the children will get over the incident long before the adults get over their afternoon together.
I hope to see this film over the holidays, just to kill my festive spirit.
Monday, 12 December 2011
Shame
A man addicted to sex isn't new. Exploring why a man is addicted to sex isn't really new either. Having a man who is addicted to sex face why he is addicted to sex and that the addiction comes from a dark, perhaps painful or traumatic place.... well maybe that isn't new either. At least, though, Shame isn’t a remake, prequel or sequel. It appears to be an attempt for a deeper understanding of an often trivialized issue.
The stereotypical sex addict male in movies is a pig, a slut, and often portrayed humorously. But, after he meets the right girl, he realizes the error of his ways and how wrong it was to treat objects like women.... or women like objects and is somehow absolved by his new commitment to... well, commitment.
The stereotype (see most Adam Sandler movies and Harlequin Romances) is shallow, trivial, and disrespectful to both men and women AND, is really not that funny. It's not for me to judge - I spent many years as a musician - but I think it's important to have to face the emotional baggage that motivates our less honorable actions, at least at some point in our lives.
I'm by no means a psychologist, but I would imagine that the need for constant gratification must stem from a lonely, unfulfilled place. Maybe it's just the mood I'm in but I think this examination of shame in the movie Shame is a good thing. It'll be even better if it's executed well.
I've seen Michael Fassbender in two films and liked them both. He was good as the pompous Brit spy in Inglorious Basterds and he was very believable as a young Magneto in X-Men First Class. The dude can act.
All this to say that the trailer for Shame makes the film look interesting, thought provoking and perhaps uncomfortably emotional for both men and women.
I'll wait until I'm in the right mood and then watch Bitter Moon by Roman Polanski... I mean go see Shame.
The stereotypical sex addict male in movies is a pig, a slut, and often portrayed humorously. But, after he meets the right girl, he realizes the error of his ways and how wrong it was to treat objects like women.... or women like objects and is somehow absolved by his new commitment to... well, commitment.
The stereotype (see most Adam Sandler movies and Harlequin Romances) is shallow, trivial, and disrespectful to both men and women AND, is really not that funny. It's not for me to judge - I spent many years as a musician - but I think it's important to have to face the emotional baggage that motivates our less honorable actions, at least at some point in our lives.
I'm by no means a psychologist, but I would imagine that the need for constant gratification must stem from a lonely, unfulfilled place. Maybe it's just the mood I'm in but I think this examination of shame in the movie Shame is a good thing. It'll be even better if it's executed well.
I've seen Michael Fassbender in two films and liked them both. He was good as the pompous Brit spy in Inglorious Basterds and he was very believable as a young Magneto in X-Men First Class. The dude can act.
All this to say that the trailer for Shame makes the film look interesting, thought provoking and perhaps uncomfortably emotional for both men and women.
I'll wait until I'm in the right mood and then watch Bitter Moon by Roman Polanski... I mean go see Shame.
Friday, 9 December 2011
The Sitter
I didn't see Adventures in Babysitting but I knew of it so I watched the trailer after I watched the trailer for The Sitter. Jonah Hill is no Elisabeth Shue, but Elisabeth Shue is no Jonah Hill, either.
The differences and similarities in the movies are many. Ms. Shue was eager to babysit. Mr. Hill was not. Ms. Shue was trying to do the right thing. Mr. Hill was not. Ms. Shue tried to be responsible and, despite the circumstances, looked out for the best interest of the kids. Mr. Hill? Apparently not. Both had to look after “difficult” children. Both had to leave the safety of the home, thus leading to “adventures.”
As well, they are two babysitters with different motives, putting themselves and the children in their charge, in potentially dangerous situations. Shue cares. Hill doesn't (at least in the trailer). Do you know who else doesn't care for The Sitter? ME.
I generally find Jonah Hill amusing, even though almost every role is basically Seth from Superbad. Although he is likeable as the juvenile with comedic angst, the irresponsible slacker babysitter acting a jerk for laughs in this movie deserves a serious beat down.
WTF time in film making are we living in where comedy has to be so mean-spirited? Like those idiots (referring to the writers of) Harold and Kumar shoot Santa in the face and it's called comedy? What does that say about us? And so what if asshead babysitter does good in the end? So what if he learns a lesson? Will we remember the lesson or will we continue to accept and then perpetuate the mean-spirited comedy?
It's too bad, because even though I haven't seen Moneyball, yet, Hill looked really good in a relatively serious supporting role. No doubt he has talent, but if he doesn't take on more roles like Moneyball, his shtick will become very tired. And, yes, he's not Elisabeth Shue.
I will never see The Sitter, but I will look for Adventures in Babysitting.
The differences and similarities in the movies are many. Ms. Shue was eager to babysit. Mr. Hill was not. Ms. Shue was trying to do the right thing. Mr. Hill was not. Ms. Shue tried to be responsible and, despite the circumstances, looked out for the best interest of the kids. Mr. Hill? Apparently not. Both had to look after “difficult” children. Both had to leave the safety of the home, thus leading to “adventures.”
As well, they are two babysitters with different motives, putting themselves and the children in their charge, in potentially dangerous situations. Shue cares. Hill doesn't (at least in the trailer). Do you know who else doesn't care for The Sitter? ME.
I generally find Jonah Hill amusing, even though almost every role is basically Seth from Superbad. Although he is likeable as the juvenile with comedic angst, the irresponsible slacker babysitter acting a jerk for laughs in this movie deserves a serious beat down.
WTF time in film making are we living in where comedy has to be so mean-spirited? Like those idiots (referring to the writers of) Harold and Kumar shoot Santa in the face and it's called comedy? What does that say about us? And so what if asshead babysitter does good in the end? So what if he learns a lesson? Will we remember the lesson or will we continue to accept and then perpetuate the mean-spirited comedy?
It's too bad, because even though I haven't seen Moneyball, yet, Hill looked really good in a relatively serious supporting role. No doubt he has talent, but if he doesn't take on more roles like Moneyball, his shtick will become very tired. And, yes, he's not Elisabeth Shue.
I will never see The Sitter, but I will look for Adventures in Babysitting.
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
I Melt With You
Because I didn't watch chick flicks back in the day, I didn't know who Tom Jane was. Then, by total fluke, I saw a film called Stander, based on the true story of an early 70's South African cop, turned bank robber. The film was so well-acted and compelling that I thought Tom Jane was South African - his accent was that good. Imagine my amusement when I read that he is from St. Louis. Needless to say, with my new found respect for him, I loved The Punisher.
I've seen Jeremy Piven in a few movies, though I didn't see the Cling-on’s or Hanger's On or whatever his TV show was called - people tell me it was good. In the movies I've seen him in he's an excellent supporting character. Rob Lowe is such an odd ball. I am always amused when I see him in a movie. I don't know who the other guy is.
I Melt With You is the story of four lifelong friends who have been getting together once a year for many years. They look to be in their 40's now, but they still party like teenagers when they get together. And, SURPRISE! Either something bad has happened in the past and they share the secret or something just happened and they make a pact to share the secret... that's the billed “thriller” part of it.
This 2:03 trailer should have ended around the 1:40 mark. After 1:40, it shows sirens, people running and close-ups of the four main character's sad faces and it ends with Tom Jane's wife asking what happened to his friends. So, is the trailer implying that he has to kill them all to keep the secret? Why give away so much? The teaser part was actually interesting. Now, all I can think of is: Very Bad Things meets I know What You Did Last Summer.
Wasn't Jeremy Piven in Very Bad Things? It's a Jon Favreau film about a bunch of family men, buddies that, on the eve of one of their weddings, go to Vegas, pick up a hooker and accidentally kill her. Everything falls apart from there. Very Bad Things was a very bad movie.
I Melt With You is a very bad title, given what the trailer implies about the story. While I'm not judging this movie by its title, only by its trailer, I'm strangely curious about this one.
Maybe I'll catch it at the Rainbow on a Tuesday.
I've seen Jeremy Piven in a few movies, though I didn't see the Cling-on’s or Hanger's On or whatever his TV show was called - people tell me it was good. In the movies I've seen him in he's an excellent supporting character. Rob Lowe is such an odd ball. I am always amused when I see him in a movie. I don't know who the other guy is.
I Melt With You is the story of four lifelong friends who have been getting together once a year for many years. They look to be in their 40's now, but they still party like teenagers when they get together. And, SURPRISE! Either something bad has happened in the past and they share the secret or something just happened and they make a pact to share the secret... that's the billed “thriller” part of it.
This 2:03 trailer should have ended around the 1:40 mark. After 1:40, it shows sirens, people running and close-ups of the four main character's sad faces and it ends with Tom Jane's wife asking what happened to his friends. So, is the trailer implying that he has to kill them all to keep the secret? Why give away so much? The teaser part was actually interesting. Now, all I can think of is: Very Bad Things meets I know What You Did Last Summer.
Wasn't Jeremy Piven in Very Bad Things? It's a Jon Favreau film about a bunch of family men, buddies that, on the eve of one of their weddings, go to Vegas, pick up a hooker and accidentally kill her. Everything falls apart from there. Very Bad Things was a very bad movie.
I Melt With You is a very bad title, given what the trailer implies about the story. While I'm not judging this movie by its title, only by its trailer, I'm strangely curious about this one.
Maybe I'll catch it at the Rainbow on a Tuesday.
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Catch .44
I began reading Joseph Heller's Catch 22 while waiting for work in central Florida. I was bored, had the book with me, as I'd been meaning to read it, and decided to sit by the pool and start it. I made myself comfortable and opened the book. There were a few families and individuals scattered pool-side. From almost the first paragraph I began to giggle. People glanced at me. I read more and giggled more. I tried to muffle the laughs, but muffling caused me to laugh even more. People seemed both amused and annoyed by me. After a few pages, I left the pool, went back to my room to read in private. Catch 22 was possibly one of the most laugh-out-loud (LOL for the kids) books I've ever read.
The term catch 22, within the context of the novel is basically, if one is "crazy," one should be discharged from the army. However, if one knows that one is crazy, then the army deems acknowledgement as being sane and thus, no discharge. The statement being that there are a lot of crazy soldiers in the army that don't know they're crazy, fighting for our freedom.... Clinger from the TV show, M.A.S.H. acted crazy but was never discharged, like the main character of Catch 22. A comparison would be kind of like wanting to get a union job, but you can't because you're not in the union and the only way to get into the union is to have a union job... follow? I guess the term also refers to a situation where one can't win, "damned if you do, damned if you don't."
Speaking of "damned if you do and damned if you don't" the trailer for Catch .44 shows that the main characters (the women) are in a catch 22 situation. So, Catch .44 is either double no-win situation or nobody in the film wins or the film is titled in honour of the calibre of the .44 magnum gun that made Dirty Harry's day.
Either way it looks like one of those slick double-cross movies where everyone has an agenda and no-one is who they seem and the good guys are bad guys and the bad guys are bad guys that may or may not be good guys and criminal activity is an out for some folks who are in dead end jobs but nothing is as easy or attractive as it seems and.... well, that's only the moral.
Bruce Willis is getting old. His edge, at least in this trailer, is gone. Forest Whitaker is always great and he seems to carry the trailer. Malin Ackerman, as annoying as she was in Watchmen (and I loved Watchmen), didn't seem annoying in the trailer for Catch .44.
I'd like to see Catch .44 when it comes out on video, but since there is no video store near me I guess I won't be able to see it...
The term catch 22, within the context of the novel is basically, if one is "crazy," one should be discharged from the army. However, if one knows that one is crazy, then the army deems acknowledgement as being sane and thus, no discharge. The statement being that there are a lot of crazy soldiers in the army that don't know they're crazy, fighting for our freedom.... Clinger from the TV show, M.A.S.H. acted crazy but was never discharged, like the main character of Catch 22. A comparison would be kind of like wanting to get a union job, but you can't because you're not in the union and the only way to get into the union is to have a union job... follow? I guess the term also refers to a situation where one can't win, "damned if you do, damned if you don't."
Speaking of "damned if you do and damned if you don't" the trailer for Catch .44 shows that the main characters (the women) are in a catch 22 situation. So, Catch .44 is either double no-win situation or nobody in the film wins or the film is titled in honour of the calibre of the .44 magnum gun that made Dirty Harry's day.
Either way it looks like one of those slick double-cross movies where everyone has an agenda and no-one is who they seem and the good guys are bad guys and the bad guys are bad guys that may or may not be good guys and criminal activity is an out for some folks who are in dead end jobs but nothing is as easy or attractive as it seems and.... well, that's only the moral.
Bruce Willis is getting old. His edge, at least in this trailer, is gone. Forest Whitaker is always great and he seems to carry the trailer. Malin Ackerman, as annoying as she was in Watchmen (and I loved Watchmen), didn't seem annoying in the trailer for Catch .44.
I'd like to see Catch .44 when it comes out on video, but since there is no video store near me I guess I won't be able to see it...
Friday, 2 December 2011
A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas - in 3D
I had a friend who worked on the Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, film. She's been in the film business for many years and she told me that working on the set of Harold and Kumar go to White Castle was the most fun she's ever had on a movie set. She also said that viewing the film was a huge let down.
I saw H and K go to White Castle. I didn't work on the film but agree that it was a huge let down. Some might say it was idiotic... not me, necessarily, but some.
I didn't want to see them at Guantanamo Bay.
The trailer had enough juvenile adult subject matter to take aim at Bad Santa (please see my November post for Arthur Christmas) but all the pieces of Harold and Kumar Save Christmas (Or was that Earnest who saves it?) seem more like an assortment of stupid human tricks and tasks aimed at an audience that is not made up of me.
So, the gist of it is that two guys who likely come from one or more of the following backgrounds: Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist, Taoist..... none of which celebrate Christmas, shoot Santa in the face (not as an act of hostility, but by accident.... how is this funny?) and then must save Christmas, while gay (not that there's anything wrong with it) Doogie Howser continues to pretend he's a bad boy, playboy, ladies’ man Heff type and, from what I get from the trailer, may or may not be a relative of, or affiliated with Santa Claus. And, you get all this in 3-D!
In the words of Forest Gump, "stupid is as stupid does."
If I'm physically handed this film in February, I might watch it in July.
I saw H and K go to White Castle. I didn't work on the film but agree that it was a huge let down. Some might say it was idiotic... not me, necessarily, but some.
I didn't want to see them at Guantanamo Bay.
The trailer had enough juvenile adult subject matter to take aim at Bad Santa (please see my November post for Arthur Christmas) but all the pieces of Harold and Kumar Save Christmas (Or was that Earnest who saves it?) seem more like an assortment of stupid human tricks and tasks aimed at an audience that is not made up of me.
So, the gist of it is that two guys who likely come from one or more of the following backgrounds: Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist, Taoist..... none of which celebrate Christmas, shoot Santa in the face (not as an act of hostility, but by accident.... how is this funny?) and then must save Christmas, while gay (not that there's anything wrong with it) Doogie Howser continues to pretend he's a bad boy, playboy, ladies’ man Heff type and, from what I get from the trailer, may or may not be a relative of, or affiliated with Santa Claus. And, you get all this in 3-D!
In the words of Forest Gump, "stupid is as stupid does."
If I'm physically handed this film in February, I might watch it in July.
Thursday, 1 December 2011
Beerbohmtastic reaches 2000 reader mark!!!
In less than 4 months, Beerbohmtastic has been read more than 2000 times in 10 different countries. Thank you for the emails and comments and thank you for reading!
November Trailer Park
The Trailer Park is a monthly feature reserved for trailers or synopsis that:
A) caused me to make that teenage girl sound, "meh"
B) the synopsis didn't warrant a trailer viewing
C) content I had no interest in
D) trailers viewed that evoked nothing
E) trailers that were so forgettable that by the time I was ready to review them, I couldn't even remember the title of the film
F) All of the above
G) None of the above
Think of the Trailer Park as a public service....
So, in no particular order, I give you this months installment of Trailer Park:
Dirty Movie (Another stupid movie from National Lampoon)
In Time (Justin Timberlake playing Justin Timberlake, makes it to the Trailer Park again)
Like Crazy (Like hell I'll see this one - sorry Anton but Fright Night turned me off you)
Paranormal Activity 3 (didn't see 1 and 2 and likely will not)
The Twilight Saga (I think this one is called breaking wind, part 1)
Thanks for reading.
A) caused me to make that teenage girl sound, "meh"
B) the synopsis didn't warrant a trailer viewing
C) content I had no interest in
D) trailers viewed that evoked nothing
E) trailers that were so forgettable that by the time I was ready to review them, I couldn't even remember the title of the film
F) All of the above
G) None of the above
Think of the Trailer Park as a public service....
So, in no particular order, I give you this months installment of Trailer Park:
Dirty Movie (Another stupid movie from National Lampoon)
In Time (Justin Timberlake playing Justin Timberlake, makes it to the Trailer Park again)
Like Crazy (Like hell I'll see this one - sorry Anton but Fright Night turned me off you)
Paranormal Activity 3 (didn't see 1 and 2 and likely will not)
The Twilight Saga (I think this one is called breaking wind, part 1)
Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Arthur Christmas
For most of my life, the annual Christmas movie was, A Christmas Story. Who didn't love the adventures of Ralphie in his quest for the "Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock, and this thing which tells time" while everyone tells him that he'll "soot his eye out." The quotes and the movie are sheer poetry.
I never thought that my favourite Christmas movie would ever stop being my favourite Christmas movie. Now it's a very close second, slightly behind Bad Santa. Yeah, I know, how could you go from a movie that uses the "f" word once, to a movie whose dialogue is based in profanity? I don't know. But if you look beneath the profanity, Bad Santa is a sweet movie about friendship, redemption and finding the spirit of Christmas, but for adults. Humour me.
So, since 1983's A Christmas Story, there have been dozens of pretenders that have tried to de-throne the champ. Many have tried, feebly. Among the pretenders: Earnest Saves Christmas, all the Santa Claus(e) movies, Fred Claus, Surviving Christmas (which, by the way, filmschoolrejects.com picks to be the worst Christmas movie ever). The list of bad Christmas movies is just an endless list of... um... bad Christmas movies. To be honest, I can’t think of any good ones. Elf was funny only because Peter Dinklage beats the crap out of Will Ferrell. Peter Dinklage was really great in The Station Agent AND there aren’t enough movies where Will Ferrell gets the crap beat out of him.
Oh yeah, Arthur Christmas. I first watched what was called the "teaser." If by tease they mean, annoy, then it was successful. It told me nothing and I didn't care. The theatrical trailer gave much more. The gist of it is the answer to the question: how does Santa deliver all those toys? Well Santa's amazing hi-tech Christmas machine is how every kid gets presents in one night. Like all hi-tech, however, there is always a glitch - kind of like Microsoft Windows freezing for no reason at any given moment. This glitch is that one kid doesn't get a present. So, Arthur Christmas uses the old-school method, reindeer and sleigh (which doesn't make sense, at least in the trailer) because how did the old school method ever deliver all those billions of presents? Well, he saves Christmas by getting the present to the one kid. I'm guessing that most of the story will be the “humourous journey.” Yes, it's all in the trailer.
I hope kids enjoy this movie, because it's important for kids to believe in something. Me? I believe that I will likely never see this film. No risk of de-throning the champ from this one.
I never thought that my favourite Christmas movie would ever stop being my favourite Christmas movie. Now it's a very close second, slightly behind Bad Santa. Yeah, I know, how could you go from a movie that uses the "f" word once, to a movie whose dialogue is based in profanity? I don't know. But if you look beneath the profanity, Bad Santa is a sweet movie about friendship, redemption and finding the spirit of Christmas, but for adults. Humour me.
So, since 1983's A Christmas Story, there have been dozens of pretenders that have tried to de-throne the champ. Many have tried, feebly. Among the pretenders: Earnest Saves Christmas, all the Santa Claus(e) movies, Fred Claus, Surviving Christmas (which, by the way, filmschoolrejects.com picks to be the worst Christmas movie ever). The list of bad Christmas movies is just an endless list of... um... bad Christmas movies. To be honest, I can’t think of any good ones. Elf was funny only because Peter Dinklage beats the crap out of Will Ferrell. Peter Dinklage was really great in The Station Agent AND there aren’t enough movies where Will Ferrell gets the crap beat out of him.
Oh yeah, Arthur Christmas. I first watched what was called the "teaser." If by tease they mean, annoy, then it was successful. It told me nothing and I didn't care. The theatrical trailer gave much more. The gist of it is the answer to the question: how does Santa deliver all those toys? Well Santa's amazing hi-tech Christmas machine is how every kid gets presents in one night. Like all hi-tech, however, there is always a glitch - kind of like Microsoft Windows freezing for no reason at any given moment. This glitch is that one kid doesn't get a present. So, Arthur Christmas uses the old-school method, reindeer and sleigh (which doesn't make sense, at least in the trailer) because how did the old school method ever deliver all those billions of presents? Well, he saves Christmas by getting the present to the one kid. I'm guessing that most of the story will be the “humourous journey.” Yes, it's all in the trailer.
I hope kids enjoy this movie, because it's important for kids to believe in something. Me? I believe that I will likely never see this film. No risk of de-throning the champ from this one.
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Hugo
I love Martin Scorsese. I don't care for 3-D movies. I love Ben Kinglsey. I don't care for Jude Law. I like that this trailer made me think that this may (or may not be) an updated fantasy version of Oliver Twist. I like that Sacha Baron Cohen is in a comedic role without the use of Ali G., Borat or Bruno.
Even though the trailer for Hugo is 2:26, it doesn't really give away the core of the story. What we know is: a young boy is orphaned. His father, an inventor of sorts, leaves him a clue to something special before he dies. Not sure why The Great Mouse Detective just popped into my head. Speaking of The Great Mouse Detective, Jude Law as Dr. Watson in the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Homes was the most tolerable Jude Law in memory.
So, Hugo, lives in the train station and artfully dodges Baron Cohen, the security guard until he, by chance, discovers the "key" to his father's secret. The secret is some sort of magical fantasy world.
The not-so-secret part is, films directed by Martin Scorsese, though not always great, are often interesting. If I were to make a list of my favourite movies (there are too many to actually ever list), Scorsese directed quite a few (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, Casino...). Though this is a departure from his usual dramas, I just know that it'll be entertaining and worth the cost of admission.
I will likely see this on a big screen.
Even though the trailer for Hugo is 2:26, it doesn't really give away the core of the story. What we know is: a young boy is orphaned. His father, an inventor of sorts, leaves him a clue to something special before he dies. Not sure why The Great Mouse Detective just popped into my head. Speaking of The Great Mouse Detective, Jude Law as Dr. Watson in the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Homes was the most tolerable Jude Law in memory.
So, Hugo, lives in the train station and artfully dodges Baron Cohen, the security guard until he, by chance, discovers the "key" to his father's secret. The secret is some sort of magical fantasy world.
The not-so-secret part is, films directed by Martin Scorsese, though not always great, are often interesting. If I were to make a list of my favourite movies (there are too many to actually ever list), Scorsese directed quite a few (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, Casino...). Though this is a departure from his usual dramas, I just know that it'll be entertaining and worth the cost of admission.
I will likely see this on a big screen.
Monday, 28 November 2011
VIEWED: 50/50
My recommendation for this one was...
"If 50/50 is half as moving as the trailer looks, then I would say it's a must see."
It was.
50/50 is the story of a 27 year old man, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who is diagnosed with cancer. Despite the serious subject matter, the film depicts the cancer journey and its effects on the individual and the ones close to him with humour and compassion. What I noticed is that everyone's reaction to the cancer was different.
Though 50/50 was a bit slow at first there were some great performances. Gordon-Levitt is honest and real. Angelica Houston is always great. She was perfect as Gordon-Levitt's mother. And, though Rogen continues to play what is now expected of Rogen in every role: the immature, goofy side-kick, in 50/50 it worked, well.
Because everyone has been touched by cancer in some way, this film is relevant.
"If 50/50 is half as moving as the trailer looks, then I would say it's a must see."
It was.
50/50 is the story of a 27 year old man, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who is diagnosed with cancer. Despite the serious subject matter, the film depicts the cancer journey and its effects on the individual and the ones close to him with humour and compassion. What I noticed is that everyone's reaction to the cancer was different.
Though 50/50 was a bit slow at first there were some great performances. Gordon-Levitt is honest and real. Angelica Houston is always great. She was perfect as Gordon-Levitt's mother. And, though Rogen continues to play what is now expected of Rogen in every role: the immature, goofy side-kick, in 50/50 it worked, well.
Because everyone has been touched by cancer in some way, this film is relevant.
Saturday, 26 November 2011
VIEWED: X-Men: First Class
My recommendation for this one was...
I heard through the grapevine that Dr. Manhattan and Mystique were dating. Big screen viewing.
I finally got around to seeing X-Men: First Class. I loved the 60's feel and the historical context. The Cuban missile crisis stuff was cool. It had all the elements, drama and acting that I expected, and brought some context to the franchise, but it just didn't deliver on the action. While it had it's moments, it didn't live up to my comic book movie adaptation devotion.
So, what would I say to the makers? It isn't you, it's me... Was anyone else disappointed in this one?
I heard through the grapevine that Dr. Manhattan and Mystique were dating. Big screen viewing.
I finally got around to seeing X-Men: First Class. I loved the 60's feel and the historical context. The Cuban missile crisis stuff was cool. It had all the elements, drama and acting that I expected, and brought some context to the franchise, but it just didn't deliver on the action. While it had it's moments, it didn't live up to my comic book movie adaptation devotion.
So, what would I say to the makers? It isn't you, it's me... Was anyone else disappointed in this one?
Friday, 25 November 2011
Snow White and the Huntsman
After watching the trailer for Snow White and the Huntsman, another trailer caught my eye called, Mirror Mirror. I watched that one, too. Mirror Mirror is a comedy of sorts and a kind of twist like Drew Barrymore's Ever After: A Cinderella Story. It's kind of annoying how two movies with basically the same story are released around the same time. It happens every so often, but that's not what I'm reviewing...
Snow White and the Huntsman looks pretty damn cool. The original Brother's Grimm story wasn't the light Disney story. It was a harsh look at vanity and envy served with cruelty and supernatural elements - no mention of dwarfs in the trailer. One of the elements of a "fairy tale" is the happy ending. I've heard that early, original "fairy tales" were created to scare kids into choosing a righteous path. I wonder what the modern equivalent is?
Charlize Theron. She looks great as the evil queen. She's made some good movies and was intense in her Oscar winning performance in Monster. The problem is that every time I see her, now, I think of the character she played in Arrested Development. She played, Rita, a developmentally delayed (not sure if that's the politically correct term) love interest of Michael. She was funny and cute and it further showed her versatility, especially after Monster. I just hope that I don't think of Rita and giggle while the evil queen in Snow White and the Huntsman is trying to scare me.
While I trust Snow White and the Huntsman will stick to its fairy tale roots and have the happy ending, I like the dark medieval feel and am curious as to how it will play out. The trailer kind of reminded me of Harry Potter meets Lord of the Rings. While I doubt Snow White will be as epic, I get the sense that it'll be an entertaining spin.
I think I'll see this one on the big screen.
Snow White and the Huntsman looks pretty damn cool. The original Brother's Grimm story wasn't the light Disney story. It was a harsh look at vanity and envy served with cruelty and supernatural elements - no mention of dwarfs in the trailer. One of the elements of a "fairy tale" is the happy ending. I've heard that early, original "fairy tales" were created to scare kids into choosing a righteous path. I wonder what the modern equivalent is?
Charlize Theron. She looks great as the evil queen. She's made some good movies and was intense in her Oscar winning performance in Monster. The problem is that every time I see her, now, I think of the character she played in Arrested Development. She played, Rita, a developmentally delayed (not sure if that's the politically correct term) love interest of Michael. She was funny and cute and it further showed her versatility, especially after Monster. I just hope that I don't think of Rita and giggle while the evil queen in Snow White and the Huntsman is trying to scare me.
While I trust Snow White and the Huntsman will stick to its fairy tale roots and have the happy ending, I like the dark medieval feel and am curious as to how it will play out. The trailer kind of reminded me of Harry Potter meets Lord of the Rings. While I doubt Snow White will be as epic, I get the sense that it'll be an entertaining spin.
I think I'll see this one on the big screen.
Thursday, 24 November 2011
The Muppets
In the forgettable, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Segal writes and acts in a musical of Dracula and is surrounded by Muppets, he also shows his penis - but not to Muppets. That would just be sick. Harvey Keitel showed his penis in the original Bad Lieutenant. It symbolized his vulnerability. I don't think there was a point to Segal showing his. While Segal may have the edge in that category, he is no Keitel as an actor.
The first thing that popped into my head when the trailer started was, "The band, man! Let's put the band back together..." The Blues Brothers.
It looks like it's a movie about bringing the old Muppets (band) together to make a movie. Why couldn't they have made a sequel to Muppets in Space? How about Muppet the Barbarian? Maybe a superhero movie called Muppetman. That would be fun. A movie about making a movie or a story of someone writing a story is beyond unoriginal.
It's sad because Muppets are original. I loved Sesame Street and the Muppet Show. I like Amy Adams and I even like Segal. They both seem genuine.
The problem is that this trailer just looks so lame. I'll have to pass, for now.
The first thing that popped into my head when the trailer started was, "The band, man! Let's put the band back together..." The Blues Brothers.
It looks like it's a movie about bringing the old Muppets (band) together to make a movie. Why couldn't they have made a sequel to Muppets in Space? How about Muppet the Barbarian? Maybe a superhero movie called Muppetman. That would be fun. A movie about making a movie or a story of someone writing a story is beyond unoriginal.
It's sad because Muppets are original. I loved Sesame Street and the Muppet Show. I like Amy Adams and I even like Segal. They both seem genuine.
The problem is that this trailer just looks so lame. I'll have to pass, for now.
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
The Descendants
After reading the synopsis I almost added this one to this month’s Trailer Park.... almost. I'm not sure why I watched the trailer but I'm glad I did. It was pretty good.
George Clooney is an interesting character. In half his films he plays George Clooney and the other half he is a decent actor. Not that I've seen all of his movies... He even won an Oscar for Syrianna, in which he plays George Clooney acting. Hmmm, I guess that’s the third side. Now that I think about it he was the third side in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Maybe the third side is really the first side and the second side is still the decent actor. Maybe this posting should be called confusions of a blogging mind.
Where was I? The Descendants is the story of a man who calls himself "the back-up parent... the understudy." His wife has an accident and he must step up and become a full time parent to his two daughters, one is post-pubescent, one is pre-pubescent. We never actually see the wife in the trailer but we learn that she has been having an affair and the post-pubescent daughter knew about it and is acting out her anger. The synopsis describes something about needing to sell the family house that has been in the family for years, but the trailer only focuses on the human conflict.
Yeah, I know what you're thinking. How does this sound interesting or important or relevant? Well, it doesn't but for some reason I found the trailer compelling. I also made the wife watch it just to be sure the soy milk that I used to drink hadn't altered my hormones. When the trailer ended she looked at me and said, "hmm, let's see this film." I told her that just because I liked the trailer doesn’t mean I’ll be seeing the film AND there's a difference between being in touch with your feminine side and actually touching your feminine side.
Yeah, this will be a date night movie.
George Clooney is an interesting character. In half his films he plays George Clooney and the other half he is a decent actor. Not that I've seen all of his movies... He even won an Oscar for Syrianna, in which he plays George Clooney acting. Hmmm, I guess that’s the third side. Now that I think about it he was the third side in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Maybe the third side is really the first side and the second side is still the decent actor. Maybe this posting should be called confusions of a blogging mind.
Where was I? The Descendants is the story of a man who calls himself "the back-up parent... the understudy." His wife has an accident and he must step up and become a full time parent to his two daughters, one is post-pubescent, one is pre-pubescent. We never actually see the wife in the trailer but we learn that she has been having an affair and the post-pubescent daughter knew about it and is acting out her anger. The synopsis describes something about needing to sell the family house that has been in the family for years, but the trailer only focuses on the human conflict.
Yeah, I know what you're thinking. How does this sound interesting or important or relevant? Well, it doesn't but for some reason I found the trailer compelling. I also made the wife watch it just to be sure the soy milk that I used to drink hadn't altered my hormones. When the trailer ended she looked at me and said, "hmm, let's see this film." I told her that just because I liked the trailer doesn’t mean I’ll be seeing the film AND there's a difference between being in touch with your feminine side and actually touching your feminine side.
Yeah, this will be a date night movie.
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Tower Heist
I had to watch two trailers for Tower Heist because the first trailer was a bunch of 40ish guys being taught to shoplift by Eddie Murphy, but without context. The second trailer brought clarity to what the film was really about: stealing back from one who stole, or an eye for an eye, or breaking the law to seek justice... Sadly, the reality of our society (and the films that we see) promote revenge and contradict all Judeo-Christian ethics. Or is this movie really just a metaphor for the Occupy Movement? The 99% seeking revenge on the 1% that has been sticking it to the 99%?
I will give my humble, marginally informed opinion on Occupy and get back to judging this film by its trailer(s).
Arab Spring had a purpose: overthrow the Egyptian government. I get it. It worked. It's done - yet there is still conflict. From my limited understanding, the Occupy moverment is about overthrowing the 1% that holds the 99% of the wealth? What exactly is the objective? Further, how do they propose to make change happen? (If someone has a link to the manifesto, please send it to me).
Today, I heard on the radio that the Occupy movement in D.C. wants an old school that used to be a homeless shelter turned back to a homeless shelter. Good idea, but is that what the Occupy Movement is about? Is the movement now advocacy in tents? I know there are organizations all over North America trying to address the homeless issue - NYC's Common Ground is doing an amazing job. I saw the work, first hand, a few years ago and it was very impressive. I digress.
Will Tower Heist make Occupy people feel good? The trailer didn't make me feel good. Nor did it make me laugh, nor anything, really. Well, not true. I hate to hear about pension money being pissed away by greedy assholes.
So, here we have a cast of actors that haven't done much of note lately - at least in my opinion. Stiller had so much promise and then gave us Zoolander - Tropic Thunder was fun, though. Broderick is likeable but hasn't replicated his Ferris Bueller screen presence in anything I've seen him in, since. Casey Affleck is versatile. Michael Pena is a solid actor but isn't in enough movies. Eddie Murphy peaked with Beverly Hills Cop, though I loved him in Bowfinger, he hasn't really made a decent film in a long time.
Tower Heist is a sort of reflection of our times. Pensions misappropriated, unstable economy, white collar crimes perpetrated by the 1%, not brought to justice and the working stiffs doing the wrong things for the right reasons to seek revenge... It's kind of sad to think that in the real world it's the working stiff that gets stiffed the most. Yeah, I get the occupy thing. I just don't know if it's going to be effective.
Tower Heist. Don't get me wrong, I like Eddie Murphy, as I do the cast of this film. I just don't think it will deliver. That said, I'll likely see it on a big screen at The Rainbow on a Tuesday. For $4, most of us 99% can afford to see a movie once in a while.
I will give my humble, marginally informed opinion on Occupy and get back to judging this film by its trailer(s).
Arab Spring had a purpose: overthrow the Egyptian government. I get it. It worked. It's done - yet there is still conflict. From my limited understanding, the Occupy moverment is about overthrowing the 1% that holds the 99% of the wealth? What exactly is the objective? Further, how do they propose to make change happen? (If someone has a link to the manifesto, please send it to me).
Today, I heard on the radio that the Occupy movement in D.C. wants an old school that used to be a homeless shelter turned back to a homeless shelter. Good idea, but is that what the Occupy Movement is about? Is the movement now advocacy in tents? I know there are organizations all over North America trying to address the homeless issue - NYC's Common Ground is doing an amazing job. I saw the work, first hand, a few years ago and it was very impressive. I digress.
Will Tower Heist make Occupy people feel good? The trailer didn't make me feel good. Nor did it make me laugh, nor anything, really. Well, not true. I hate to hear about pension money being pissed away by greedy assholes.
So, here we have a cast of actors that haven't done much of note lately - at least in my opinion. Stiller had so much promise and then gave us Zoolander - Tropic Thunder was fun, though. Broderick is likeable but hasn't replicated his Ferris Bueller screen presence in anything I've seen him in, since. Casey Affleck is versatile. Michael Pena is a solid actor but isn't in enough movies. Eddie Murphy peaked with Beverly Hills Cop, though I loved him in Bowfinger, he hasn't really made a decent film in a long time.
Tower Heist is a sort of reflection of our times. Pensions misappropriated, unstable economy, white collar crimes perpetrated by the 1%, not brought to justice and the working stiffs doing the wrong things for the right reasons to seek revenge... It's kind of sad to think that in the real world it's the working stiff that gets stiffed the most. Yeah, I get the occupy thing. I just don't know if it's going to be effective.
Tower Heist. Don't get me wrong, I like Eddie Murphy, as I do the cast of this film. I just don't think it will deliver. That said, I'll likely see it on a big screen at The Rainbow on a Tuesday. For $4, most of us 99% can afford to see a movie once in a while.
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Melancholia
I liked Kirsten Dunst in Jumanji.
You know how some movies are described as "rip roaring romps," or "action-packed," or "awakens the senses" or even "thought provoking?" Melancholia is none of those. The title perfectly describes it and while melancholy is a mood/emotion that certainly has a place in movies, two hours of it? Seriously... based on the trailer for this one, it should be called Dullancholia.
I'm being a bit harsh. While watching the trailer I laughed when, during the typical dysfunctional family dynamics of the wedding, we learn that a planet is heading straight for earth and there is a chance that all life will end. So, why is this funny? It's a Simpson’s episode.
In the Simpsons episode, Homer predicts that the meteor about to hit Springfield will dissolve once it enters the earth's atmosphere. To everyone's surprise, he's right.
Nothing in the trailer for Melancholia indicates that the characters, all suffering from melancholy, by the way, embrace life and try to make the best of their remaining days. There's nothing to show that their melancholy changes in any way in the face of imminent death. On the contrary, the melancholy seems to be the mood from beginning to end. So, what's the point of that? The writers could have placed any scenario after the wedding. How about a terrorist attack or maybe a tidal wave or impending ice age or zombie plague? The only thing missing from Melancholia is a soundtrack by The Smiths. I know there's more of a point to Melancholia. The planet is called Melancholia and the mood is reflected in the film. Wow. Clever. The trailer, however, says nothing to make me want to care.
The other thing about the trailer is that there is nudity - albeit a long shot of it - naked, melancholy from Kirsten Dunst.
I think I'll pass on this one and dust off some Smiths records. Louder Than Bombs should give me a more meaningful melancholy than Melancholia, and I could clean out the shed and not lose the 2 hours I'll never get back.
You know how some movies are described as "rip roaring romps," or "action-packed," or "awakens the senses" or even "thought provoking?" Melancholia is none of those. The title perfectly describes it and while melancholy is a mood/emotion that certainly has a place in movies, two hours of it? Seriously... based on the trailer for this one, it should be called Dullancholia.
I'm being a bit harsh. While watching the trailer I laughed when, during the typical dysfunctional family dynamics of the wedding, we learn that a planet is heading straight for earth and there is a chance that all life will end. So, why is this funny? It's a Simpson’s episode.
In the Simpsons episode, Homer predicts that the meteor about to hit Springfield will dissolve once it enters the earth's atmosphere. To everyone's surprise, he's right.
Nothing in the trailer for Melancholia indicates that the characters, all suffering from melancholy, by the way, embrace life and try to make the best of their remaining days. There's nothing to show that their melancholy changes in any way in the face of imminent death. On the contrary, the melancholy seems to be the mood from beginning to end. So, what's the point of that? The writers could have placed any scenario after the wedding. How about a terrorist attack or maybe a tidal wave or impending ice age or zombie plague? The only thing missing from Melancholia is a soundtrack by The Smiths. I know there's more of a point to Melancholia. The planet is called Melancholia and the mood is reflected in the film. Wow. Clever. The trailer, however, says nothing to make me want to care.
The other thing about the trailer is that there is nudity - albeit a long shot of it - naked, melancholy from Kirsten Dunst.
I think I'll pass on this one and dust off some Smiths records. Louder Than Bombs should give me a more meaningful melancholy than Melancholia, and I could clean out the shed and not lose the 2 hours I'll never get back.
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Jack and Jill
I never thought I'd say this, but... I'm getting really bored with Adam Sandler. Every movie is an extension of Billy Madison or Happy Gilmore. Isn't Happy Madison also the name of his production company?
Let's take a look (at the ones I've seen - and I did like most of them):
Billy Madison: Adam as rich loser who annoys people then does the right thing, makes good, and gets the hot girl.
Happy Gilmore: Adam as lovable loser who annoys people then does the right thing, makes good, and gets the hot girl.
The Wedding Singer: Adam as love-scorned loser who makes good, and gets the hot girl.
The Waterboy: Adam as momma's boy loser who annoys momma then makes good, and gets the hot girl.
Big Daddy: Adam as lovable loser who annoys people then does the right thing, makes good, and gets the hot girl.
Little Nicky: Adam as son of Satan who annoys demons then does the right thing, makes good, and gets the hot girl.
Punch Drunk Love: Adam as odd, straight man who annoys the wrong people then does right thing, gets the girl but still makes odd.
Then a few "family man" movies and movies where he's the untamed ladies’ man who falls for one special "hot girl." Didn't Harlequin Romance build a mega-franchise on this premise? Sandler is smart and has made millions making formulaic mindless comedies. Respect to him for knowing what sells, that alone is a talent.
In Jack and Jill (the second 2:33 trailer in a row for me) appears to be another Happy Madison formulaic "comedy." This time, Sandler, who gets to flex his acting muscle, plays twins. The comedic Jill, twin sister of straight man, Jack. The too long trailer shows a series of gags, ranging from one-liners to slapstick - he looks terrible as a woman. The only thing that made the trailer interesting was Al Pacino's interest in Jill. It was funny, yet kind of creepy. Was this the first comedy for Pacino? Oh, Al.
So, Jack and Jill is: Twin sister of rich family man loser, annoys people then does the right thing and gets Al Pacino.
Yawn.
Let's take a look (at the ones I've seen - and I did like most of them):
Billy Madison: Adam as rich loser who annoys people then does the right thing, makes good, and gets the hot girl.
Happy Gilmore: Adam as lovable loser who annoys people then does the right thing, makes good, and gets the hot girl.
The Wedding Singer: Adam as love-scorned loser who makes good, and gets the hot girl.
The Waterboy: Adam as momma's boy loser who annoys momma then makes good, and gets the hot girl.
Big Daddy: Adam as lovable loser who annoys people then does the right thing, makes good, and gets the hot girl.
Little Nicky: Adam as son of Satan who annoys demons then does the right thing, makes good, and gets the hot girl.
Punch Drunk Love: Adam as odd, straight man who annoys the wrong people then does right thing, gets the girl but still makes odd.
Then a few "family man" movies and movies where he's the untamed ladies’ man who falls for one special "hot girl." Didn't Harlequin Romance build a mega-franchise on this premise? Sandler is smart and has made millions making formulaic mindless comedies. Respect to him for knowing what sells, that alone is a talent.
In Jack and Jill (the second 2:33 trailer in a row for me) appears to be another Happy Madison formulaic "comedy." This time, Sandler, who gets to flex his acting muscle, plays twins. The comedic Jill, twin sister of straight man, Jack. The too long trailer shows a series of gags, ranging from one-liners to slapstick - he looks terrible as a woman. The only thing that made the trailer interesting was Al Pacino's interest in Jill. It was funny, yet kind of creepy. Was this the first comedy for Pacino? Oh, Al.
So, Jack and Jill is: Twin sister of rich family man loser, annoys people then does the right thing and gets Al Pacino.
Yawn.
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