Random Thoughts: 2 Weeks of Watching...
AMERICAN DREAMZ - 5/10
Sadly, more dead than dead on. Great concept, dull execution. The three main caricatures - not characters: Bush, Simon and Kelly - are dull and not very interesting. The best storyline is that of Omar, the bumbling, showtune loving terrorist. Shohreh Aghdashloo, as his rich housewife aunt, seems to be having the most fun in the film with her own variation of a cliched role. Paul Weitz keeps MVP's Judy Greer and Jennifer Coolidge on the sidelines far too long. If you've seen the commercial where Coolidge urges the young Moore to "sing! sing!" you've seen her entire role almost. It is a pretty original, slightly daring satire and it deserves props for trying to be subversive. But, oh!, what Tina Fey and Mark Waters could have done with it!!
THE BENCHWARMERS - 1/10
The Worst Movie I've Seen in Years. Seriously, we get that a studio spends $25 million for Adam Sandler and his buddies to throw a keg party and film what is little more than a home movie from a script probably written on toilet paper.
FRIENDS WITH MONEY - 8/10
Probably my least favorite of Nicole's three films, which doesn't mean it's bad at all. In fact, it's really good. The four actresses are wonderful in their roles, particularly Frances McDormand who is better here than she was in her Oscar-nominated turn in North Country. When she called the guy who cut her off at the fruit market an asshole, I lost it. I love the honesty of the film portraying how we talk shit about our friends behind their backs almost as a way of just proving how much we know, care for and love them. The last line in the film is perfect. I can't wait for Holofcener's next film.
INSIDE MAN - 5/10
Ugh! What is the point of casting sexiest man alive Clive Owen in a role if you are only going to cover him up with a mask for about 75% of the movie. Spike Lee does what he can sometimes but is just seems lazy for most of the film. There's some great humor - such as the little boy's game and the bank manager's ringtone. The film is like some weird combo of Dog Day Afternoon, Crash and Ocean's 11. Denzel is Denzel. Jodie - a magnificent cunt. Seriously, I'd nominate her for this. The best part of the film. It runs about 30 minutes too long and really loses it's snazzy breeze of an attitude about 45 minutes into the film. Too bad. What a waste.
SCARY MOVIE 4 - 5/10
I'll probably laugh more during this film than I will during any of the other films this year. But the movie is so uneven it's hard to actually recommend it. The problem is that you can see the story spinning so much that all the parodies come at you with little surprise. I like it better when they make up their own plot and just throw spoof scenes in. This has never been this series' strong point. Craig Bierko is the perfect match for Anna Faris and it was nice to see the little girl parody of Dakota Fanning appropriately getting the shit beat out of her.
SOUTHERN BELLES - 4/10
Anna Faris indie also starring a surprisingly good Justin Chambers (former Calvin Klein model and current Grey's Anatomy hottie). It's like a less clever Romy and Michelle about two girls dreaming of a better life in Atlanta. Some funny bits, but it's a little too quirky for its own good.
THANK YOU FOR SMOKING - 6/10
A satire - filtered. Haha. I'm so witty. A little too broad, with not enough bite. Great cast and good writing can save it from being middle of the road and unmemorable.
V FOR VENDETTA - 7/10
While it could've used some more work, this is a pretty brave American action film - you can tell its American made because the Brits say "Bollocks!" a lot. The ending is made a little too sentimental to be as nasty as it would like to be. Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving are good. I was surprised with all the homo-material running through it. But it was a hot lesbian, though? Ah well. Baby steps. I enjoyed the film though.
Sadly, more dead than dead on. Great concept, dull execution. The three main caricatures - not characters: Bush, Simon and Kelly - are dull and not very interesting. The best storyline is that of Omar, the bumbling, showtune loving terrorist. Shohreh Aghdashloo, as his rich housewife aunt, seems to be having the most fun in the film with her own variation of a cliched role. Paul Weitz keeps MVP's Judy Greer and Jennifer Coolidge on the sidelines far too long. If you've seen the commercial where Coolidge urges the young Moore to "sing! sing!" you've seen her entire role almost. It is a pretty original, slightly daring satire and it deserves props for trying to be subversive. But, oh!, what Tina Fey and Mark Waters could have done with it!!
THE BENCHWARMERS - 1/10
The Worst Movie I've Seen in Years. Seriously, we get that a studio spends $25 million for Adam Sandler and his buddies to throw a keg party and film what is little more than a home movie from a script probably written on toilet paper.
FRIENDS WITH MONEY - 8/10
Probably my least favorite of Nicole's three films, which doesn't mean it's bad at all. In fact, it's really good. The four actresses are wonderful in their roles, particularly Frances McDormand who is better here than she was in her Oscar-nominated turn in North Country. When she called the guy who cut her off at the fruit market an asshole, I lost it. I love the honesty of the film portraying how we talk shit about our friends behind their backs almost as a way of just proving how much we know, care for and love them. The last line in the film is perfect. I can't wait for Holofcener's next film.
INSIDE MAN - 5/10
Ugh! What is the point of casting sexiest man alive Clive Owen in a role if you are only going to cover him up with a mask for about 75% of the movie. Spike Lee does what he can sometimes but is just seems lazy for most of the film. There's some great humor - such as the little boy's game and the bank manager's ringtone. The film is like some weird combo of Dog Day Afternoon, Crash and Ocean's 11. Denzel is Denzel. Jodie - a magnificent cunt. Seriously, I'd nominate her for this. The best part of the film. It runs about 30 minutes too long and really loses it's snazzy breeze of an attitude about 45 minutes into the film. Too bad. What a waste.
SCARY MOVIE 4 - 5/10
I'll probably laugh more during this film than I will during any of the other films this year. But the movie is so uneven it's hard to actually recommend it. The problem is that you can see the story spinning so much that all the parodies come at you with little surprise. I like it better when they make up their own plot and just throw spoof scenes in. This has never been this series' strong point. Craig Bierko is the perfect match for Anna Faris and it was nice to see the little girl parody of Dakota Fanning appropriately getting the shit beat out of her.
SOUTHERN BELLES - 4/10
Anna Faris indie also starring a surprisingly good Justin Chambers (former Calvin Klein model and current Grey's Anatomy hottie). It's like a less clever Romy and Michelle about two girls dreaming of a better life in Atlanta. Some funny bits, but it's a little too quirky for its own good.
THANK YOU FOR SMOKING - 6/10
A satire - filtered. Haha. I'm so witty. A little too broad, with not enough bite. Great cast and good writing can save it from being middle of the road and unmemorable.
V FOR VENDETTA - 7/10
While it could've used some more work, this is a pretty brave American action film - you can tell its American made because the Brits say "Bollocks!" a lot. The ending is made a little too sentimental to be as nasty as it would like to be. Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving are good. I was surprised with all the homo-material running through it. But it was a hot lesbian, though? Ah well. Baby steps. I enjoyed the film though.
posted by Darren at 10:40 PM
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Even though I absolutely hated The Squid and the Whale (yes, I was the only one), I'm still looking forward to his newest film. It stars Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Jason Leigh as opposing sisters and will focus on a weekend shared at the one's home in New York. The currently untitled film is due this Christmas. Regarding Squid, it had a great screenplay and terrific acting. If I catch it some night on IFC 2 years from now, I'd probably love it. While watching it however, I wanted to kill everyone on screen. It just seemed to me to be one of those whiney, 'gee, aren't I hip and witty?' indies. Ugh. Loved Jeff and Laura, though. 
SLITHER - 8/10
Calls? These 13 year old horror fans that every movie nowadays is being marketed to need to die. I would like to see them die a gory, disgusting death in Slither 2. Granted, Slither (1) does take a good half an hour to get started, but once it does, you'll love every minute. I've heard some declare it "the new Evil Dead" which it could very well be. It's very similar to early Peter Jackson and Sam Raimi: hilarious, scary, disgusting, gory, quotable, low budget carnage candy. Oh, and it also has my favorite line from a film so far this year:
There are 4 features, between them lasting about 45 minutes.