tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135791977638378092024-03-13T13:30:04.162-04:00Media MelA blog for people who love discussing movies - with a side of TV, print and online media analysis.Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-7408888704653887382014-05-23T12:05:00.000-04:002014-05-23T13:02:57.597-04:00Review: Locke<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Movies can be viewed either on the big screen, small screen, a tablet or a tiny smartphone screen, but obviously the best way to experience most of them is while sitting in a comfortable seat in a darkened theatre. For the new film <i>Locke</i>, where you see it does matter. In other words focus is your friend, and a trip to the multiplex will pay dividends. <br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9_jZRu01ISM4fWo5DeXny6WGIne3IKhl1kdedtEHFl-r_tsQjtU1V-heI2kn5edwMMlne0Ot4RGqmV_8t4cJrHuo57fb0KEQCm_bigaP6qObtSq_bH8rTvojQlk1C0uFllaAg1DQjHnn/s1600/Locke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_lm_97126="null" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9_jZRu01ISM4fWo5DeXny6WGIne3IKhl1kdedtEHFl-r_tsQjtU1V-heI2kn5edwMMlne0Ot4RGqmV_8t4cJrHuo57fb0KEQCm_bigaP6qObtSq_bH8rTvojQlk1C0uFllaAg1DQjHnn/s1600/Locke.jpg" height="180" kta="true" width="320"></a></div>In <i>Locke</i>, only one character appears on screen and the action takes place entirely inside his moving car. That may not sound like much to sustain a viewer, but it serves this film extremely well. <i>Locke </i>is compelling, touching and satisfying, with plenty of twists and turns. However, it demands your attention (so stop texting, put down that smartphone and focus on the driving!). <br>
<br>
Ivan Locke, a dependable and highly respected construction foreman, is going through a personal crisis that, because of his actions and other factors beyond his control, has also turned into a serious professional crisis. As he drives his BMW from Birmingham to London late one night to lend support to a former lover in serious need – he is partly to blame for her plight – almost everything in his life begins to unravel. The desperate state in which he finds himself is entirely foreign to someone so organized and methodical. He’s trapped in his car when he needs to be elsewhere, and he can’t calmly, rationally execute a sound plan. Out of his element, he scrambles to do the right thing while trying to preserve the up-to-now ordered yet fulfilling life he’s built around him. <br>
<br>
Locke is played by Thomas Hardy, whom you might remember from Christopher Nolan’s <i>Inception</i>, where he played an impersonator with a talent for manipulating others inside their dreams. In Nolan’s <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i>, he was unrecognizable and unforgettable as Bane, a villain whose face is mostly obscured by an off-putting apparatus that provides pain-killing gas and has helped him survive since he suffered some horrific injuries as a young man. <br>
<br>
As an actor, Hardy stepped into a major challenge as Ivan Locke. A lesser actor could not lug around what Hardy seems to effortlessly balance in one hand here, with the other tied behind his back. His character seems almost expressionless on the surface at times, but when you look closer you perceive deep levels of pain, frustration and regret. Hardy has to convey this with only subtle body movements, tiny facial changes and his voice. Though Locke works hard to retain his composure on what must be the most painful night of his life, the turmoil inside is evident. Some call this type of acting minimalist, or economical, but that makes it sound uninteresting to watch. The opposite is true. <br>
<br>
The beauty of <i>Locke </i>is the way the story unfolds in real-time and how new plot morsels are doled out through Locke’s stream of hands-free conversations with his loved ones and colleagues. Oddly, even though we can’t see them, these secondary characters don’t feel detached from the action. We feel their happiness and pain through their voices, through Locke’s reactions, and because of the power of the screenplay, which does so much despite so many limitations resulting from the story’s setting. <br>
<br>
Another oddity is that the main character, though responsible for his plight, remains almost completely reactive. When adversity presents itself it’s lobbed at him like little time bombs he must defuse. The more he struggles, the grimmer things become. Does he realize it’s futile to keep trying to press on? Is it futile? Can he change his course after he’s fully committed himself to it, right or wrong? Will he let everyone else in his life down in order to stay true to himself and his moral code? <br>
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No matter what happens, it’s thrilling to watch an actor inhabit a role so completely. And, when great acting is melded with an interesting premise that is so well executed, you’ve got yourself a gripping movie-watching experience. Like Ivan, I suspect you’ll be on the edge of your seat. <br>
<br>
4.5 stars (out of five)Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-73340643813915359732013-04-12T10:47:00.000-04:002013-04-12T17:41:33.591-04:00Movies: can a reviewer step out of his or her own way and write an objective review? <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endi--><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">You know
what they say about opinions: they’re like belly buttons – everybody’s got one.
(I may have substituted “belly buttons” for some other orifice). Regardless, a
successful movie review typically includes a healthy dose of opinion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">As a result,
if you regularly read the work of a trusted movie reviewer you probably have a
pretty good sense of his/her likes and dislikes. These may not be openly declared,
but they will certainly filter out through the various reviews over time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Whether
those personal preferences get in the way of a good review is the question I’d
like to address.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY87ym2rxjBwNxypaVa-7CN3On5Of1PVNteHKxqgOJ_ot8FnMTmqr4rbgrBzhR-PIFDWtLoriUq6_lJyxCisht4byuugjsWZGeBIcLSSYni0crQAapp4bdKiEeJhUDn1GVocaP94s-4wou/s1600/audience3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY87ym2rxjBwNxypaVa-7CN3On5Of1PVNteHKxqgOJ_ot8FnMTmqr4rbgrBzhR-PIFDWtLoriUq6_lJyxCisht4byuugjsWZGeBIcLSSYni0crQAapp4bdKiEeJhUDn1GVocaP94s-4wou/s400/audience3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Reviewers’ likes
and dislikes can evolve from simple preferences and they can be quite innocuous,
as when your friend declares her favourite colour is red. How can you really argue
for or against the merits of a colour? And if so, would it make compelling
reading? Likely not.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">More
powerful – and potentially damaging – preferences are generally derived through prejudices,
as when a reviewer makes preconceived judgements toward people or a person
because of gender, social class, age, disability, religion, sexuality,
race/ethnicity, nationality or some other personal characteristics.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">These can
add a new, unwanted dimension to a review, especially when the prejudice is not
openly revealed. For example, imagine you’re reading a review about a Julia
Roberts movie, written by a man who’s hated her since the days of “Pretty Woman”
because he thinks she’s a showboating, man-hating ego-maniac. He’s probably not
going to mention his prejudices because they could be seen as unprofessional and
taint any future review, especially of a Julia Roberts movie. Or maybe he doesn’t
mention them because he thinks he can look overlook them and judge any film fairly.
Highly doubtful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Some say
prejudice refers simply to unfounded beliefs. Amusingly, pioneering American
psychologist and philosopher William James (January 11, 1842 – August 26, 1910)
once said</span><span style="font-size: small;">: </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">“A great many
people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their
prejudices.” You could apply this statement to movie reviewing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">The bottom
line is this: every reviewer has preconceived judgements about other people and
the artistic and creative decisions they make. It’s human nature.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">So, when do a
reviewer’s prejudices become a problem? How about if your reviewer is unable to
put himself in the position of his/her readers when discussing a film? After
all, understanding your readership is a key requirement for any writer, including
an entertainment scribe. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Most
important, being able to imagine how a member of the opposite sex would react
to or experience a movie is essential if one is to tailor reviews to the other
both halves of the population.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Can a 49-year-old
white, straight male empathize with a 16-year-old lesbian character who is
struggling with bullying and discrimination while in high school?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Alternatively,
if a woman over the age of 50 has to evaluate movies geared to 14-year-olds
boys, can she remain open to enjoying, for example, Adam Sandler’s juvenile
characters and often downright silly films. (I may have just revealed a bias of
my own there, but then I don’t think Sandler would dispute this assessment.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">What’s the
answer then? Should reviewers offer full disclosure every time they knowingly
hold a bias or are prejudiced about some element of the work being reviewed? No,
it wouldn’t work. Sometimes we don’t like an actress simply because she reminds
us of someone who jilted us in high school – but we don’t consciously know this
is the reason. And some people just don’t like westerns or documentaries or
subtitles. These aren’t good reasons to punish films in reviews – but it
happens.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Remember that
reviewer prejudices and preferences are constantly at work, shaping every film
review you read. If you can’t spot these over time in your trusted reviewer, maybe
you share similar views. Or maybe you’ve been missing out on some terrific
movies!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">The best
policy, I believe, is to read a variety of reviews, as many as possible. If a
wide range of people, having a wide range of likes and dislikes, agree that a
film is great – or awful – it probably is. Use this as your guide going forward…
with one caveat. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">If you love
Bill Murray and would see him in anything, don’t let anyone stop you from going
to see his latest movie – even if it’s a documentary about the ups and downs of
the pulp and paper industry. In other
words, don’t overthink it. If you love something </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">–</span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> a film, an actor, a director, a
screenwriter or a genre </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">–</span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> go ahead and love it unconditionally. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">But
remember, that’s just your opinion.</span></div>
Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-36374135488998883342010-03-30T18:01:00.016-04:002010-04-02T08:15:29.253-04:00Hot Tub Time Machine: Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj66qwwHGZRIVabwkLa1L0UZ9A1HMVKlVW1ob9XNfgUQRz3JBQatIwuZQN7-quHTXqjweaIzyj17lgr6IpnL4S0YBWZhir3GN1nL6pK9jDdPjzcbdrz0sF9nG1whqOKCN4r3mK2_xg70qq/s1600/Hot_tub_time_machine_poster.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj66qwwHGZRIVabwkLa1L0UZ9A1HMVKlVW1ob9XNfgUQRz3JBQatIwuZQN7-quHTXqjweaIzyj17lgr6IpnL4S0YBWZhir3GN1nL6pK9jDdPjzcbdrz0sF9nG1whqOKCN4r3mK2_xg70qq/s320/Hot_tub_time_machine_poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455510457966379138" /></a><br />My theory when picking Hot Tub Time Machine as my Friday night 'just-for-fun' flick was that I'd have a good time no matter how silly it was, because clearly it was supposed to be silly. Unfortunately it was not very silly. Perhaps I was silly for thinking it would be. Well, you can slap me silly, because it was my fault. After all, I looked at the poster and watched the trailer.<br /><br />Now John Cusack has the right to star in a goofy movie when he wants to. Heck, Con Air was gloriously, hilariously over the top. I haven't seen 2012, but I understand it's got its share of preposterous scenes too. Unfortunately sitting through Hot Tub Time Machine was just not a pleasant experience, and I think that's down to a few basic errors.<br /><br />Error number one: Apart from Cusack, the acting of the principal characters was bad.<br />Error number two: The story was basic - by design, sure - but it really didn't take the viewer anywhere. It felt pointless, nothing beyond what the title promised.<br />Error number three: It just wasn't that funny - and that's unforgivable.<br /><br />I could have overlooked errors one and two if the laughs were there.<br /><br />Hot Tub Time Machine, like Snakes on a Plane before it, telegraphs its plot in the title. The trailer, one assumes by watching it, promises hijinks, time travel, a hot tub, and some offensive - at least original - humour. The reality: not so much.<br /><br />So Cusack's character Adam is a 40-something dude who's forgotten how to have fun, or something like that, and his two best friends Lou and Nick are living in the past and/or wishing they could return to it. Though Adam wouldn't really know since he no longer keeps in touch.<br /><br />But when one of them, a frighteningly kooky but one-note Rob Corddry, goes through a "did he or didn't he try to" suicide attempt, the decision is made to go back to where they experienced their most gnarly times 24 years ago: a ski lodge called Kodiak Resort that, in 2010, has become run-down, decrepit and dirty. But at least the room has a magic time machine. Will it bring them all happiness? Can they fix past mistakes without altering, even jeopardizing their futures? Will they get home?<br /><br />Don't care. Character development was insufficient, direction was uninspired, acting was often shoddy, and like I said, laughs were hard to come by.<br /><br />This didn't even rate next to a fluffy-flick I recently saw called She's Out of My League that was definitely silly for silly's sake. That one also had a little something to say and had a heart. Plus, it made me laugh.<br /><br />You've heard of a one-joke movie? Usually this refers to a plot-dependent, central gag that gets overused. Hot Tub Time Machine has one good joke but it's secondary at best: Crispin Glover is a one-armed bellhop in 2010 but has two arms in the past. How did it happen? Finding out is fun. I know that sounds disgusting, but in fact it was just plain silly - with the added bonus of being funny. I wish the whole movie had been.Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-5731807541052913732009-12-15T12:09:00.020-05:002010-01-08T10:05:22.087-05:00Up In The Air: Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlLJWA8BwkqRFCP0XqNHAWBOCYIAIS0-WttA-u2eP_-IsfIWv9p16U_AcvKWsrZtTcTDUOEbggRnzNCosSKmns6EfaHrXvFW_wz1i-ryNvqdlHkpHY0gjXfr1oNmD-qR_P_cbrdPQ-Z-9/s1600-h/Up_in_the_Air_Poster.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlLJWA8BwkqRFCP0XqNHAWBOCYIAIS0-WttA-u2eP_-IsfIWv9p16U_AcvKWsrZtTcTDUOEbggRnzNCosSKmns6EfaHrXvFW_wz1i-ryNvqdlHkpHY0gjXfr1oNmD-qR_P_cbrdPQ-Z-9/s320/Up_in_the_Air_Poster.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424031627887592002" /></a><br /><br />In the new film "Up In The Air," the air-miles-addicted Ryan Bingham, played by George Clooney, lays out his theory on life for all when he asks his paying seminar audience "How much does your life weigh?" His view? Family and friends and their constant demands put such a drag on a person that eventually every movement becomes a chore. This extraneous baggage must be jettisoned for the good of the traveler. <br /><br />It's a compelling theory and it permeates the movie.<br /><br />But what's wrong with this Bingham guy? Is he a bitter, angry jerk? Not really, although his relationships only go topsoil deep. He is aloof and cold, but he's not a monster. He genuinely likes his life of airports, airport lounges, rental cars and hotel rooms. <br /><br />Bingham's contentedness is surprising when you consider it's his job to travel across the United States firing people - sometimes 20 or 30 a day - for bosses who are unable or unwilling to do it themselves. It's not the kind of career most people could stomach. The pain on the faces of these layoff victims is excruciating to watch - especially in this economy, when such real life scenes are all too common. <br /><br />Maybe Bingham took this job and it made him the disconnected traveler he is. Maybe he signed on because he knew it would already fit him perfectly. He is certainly an expert at jetting to his next destination unencumbered, physically and emotionally. <br /><br />But Bingham does have a dream. He wants to hit 10 million air miles. He wants to get the ultimate loyalty card from American Airlines, which involves meeting the pilot during his winning flight and the notoriety of having his name put on the side of one of the company's planes.<br /><br />It's an odd goal. Clearly very few people would share it. What isn't so clear is just how aware he is of this fact. What happened to him that made him the way he is? Oh, and how long can he go on unencumbered in his life?<br /><br />It's a great set of questions. Unfortunately, trying to get the answers isn't as much fun as it might be. <br /><br />The co-writer and director of this film is Jason Reitman, and his two previous films, "Juno" and "Thank You For Smoking," were entertaining and fueled by unique characters, clever dialogue and great stories. "Up In The Air" offers up two of the three. The story, adapted from the novel by Walter Kim, has a theme that is in fact well worn. Watching cold, lonely characters slowly thaw out is entertaining. Clint Eastwood's grouch in "Gran Turino" and Mickey Rourke's tortured boxer in "The Wrestler" are just two recent examples - among many.<br /><br />What's unique about the movie is its realism. In fact, many of those fired in the movie were regular Americans who really were fired some months before. The reactions of these people, while more thought out than those occurring at their actual firings, are real. <br /><br />This helps and hinders. Reitman has said in interviews that he wrote the script before the economy tanked and the firing scenes were to be played mostly for laughs. After the financial crisis hit, the scenes he filmed became far more serious. The tone of these scenes leaves the viewer unsure whether to laugh, cry or cringe. And they hurt the flow by stifling the fun that is going on in the movie outside of the boardroom. So, while nothing in the story is too telegraphed, and that is good, the humor never rises above the guffaw/chuckle point.<br /><br />Still, good performances are the trump card in "Up In The Air." Clooney is very good. Vera Farmiga is wonderful as his fellow air mile-collecting enthusiast (and more). And Anna Kendrick owns the movie as Natalie Keener, the upstart at Bingham's office who, without malice, may bring an end to Bingham's current job and by extension, his lifestyle. <br /><br />But the laughs, stifled by the general disconnected tone of the movie and its main character, are needed. It's such a shame none of them hit hard enough to let the audience cut loose. Then they could jump back into the bleaker bits and just relax. In the end, the non-funny side of "Up In The Air" weighed too much for the funny side. Luckily the extra baggage didn't crash this flight, but it held it back from truly soaring. <br /><br /><br />***1/2 stars (out of five)Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-23454314546711345542009-08-18T14:50:00.025-04:002009-09-03T14:47:33.130-04:00Review: (500) Days of Summer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oRCX1lfGhXYP59Dyn5O6_SEOYSRzXceHM7xkClabua4K7xnqpx5FdwJGQYcqHs18cyzhiBmcBjdkS1KkDXzC-STACGPYblLsGlAnPcfoQIZXQU16Hinq-kyyjbUHXtMWLuDsEPa0jqDL/s1600-h/Five_hundred_days_of_summer.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oRCX1lfGhXYP59Dyn5O6_SEOYSRzXceHM7xkClabua4K7xnqpx5FdwJGQYcqHs18cyzhiBmcBjdkS1KkDXzC-STACGPYblLsGlAnPcfoQIZXQU16Hinq-kyyjbUHXtMWLuDsEPa0jqDL/s320/Five_hundred_days_of_summer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377247721873733122" /></a><br /><br />If the new film "(500) Days of Summer" were a chocolate from one of those Pot of Gold-type boxes, it would be a perfectly-sized, succulent little nougat-covered cruncher, but one in which you'd find surprising tartness. <br /><br />This anti-romantic-comedy, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, has a lot to say about fate, faith, love and the idea of love, and refuses to resort to cheap tricks to say it. Nor does "(500) Days" wrap tidy little bows on everything so we can go home and ignore the questions it suggests we ask ourselves. That's a good thing.<br /><br />Our hero, Tom Hansen, is a greeting card writer trained as an architect (so, frustrated and pretty bored with his job) who is smitten when a girl named Summer Finn joins the firm as his boss's assistant. After some delays, often played for laughs, they find out they share a love of the Smiths - and that's when their 500 days begin.<br /><br />Don't expect a linear storyline. We jump to day 488 and back to day 5, then to 221, 222 and 43. It sounds incredibly distracting, but it isn't. It's fun. And it's effective because it allows you (and director Marc Webb) to focus on certain themes collectively, rather than revisiting them several times over the course of the film. The effect is both powerful and clarifying. <br /><br />Webb's direction is inspired too. He shifts between many styles and uses black and white for comedic effect. Sometimes scenes blend into gorgeous, arty stills that, if we're paying attention, give us some insight about what the characters are going through or thinking about at the time.<br /><br />It's a rather beautiful movie, tragic and funny and, believe it or not, very romantic. Casting Zooey Deschanel was clever, because her past roles might lead you to assume that there isn't much more to Summer than what meets the eye. She has played her share of breezy, free-spirits. This gives her the wiggle-room she needs to keep the audience on its toes. <br /><br />Speaking of toes, this film also contains my favorite scene so far of 2009. It involves a dance sequence, Hall & Oates and a generous amount of glee - but I don't want to spoil it for you. You'll want to see that yourself.<br /><br />The supporting players, mainly Tom's friends and sister, bring a lot to our enjoyment of this film, letting us into Tom's struggles and making us laugh about all the pain and pleasure they bring. <br /><br />I'm sure there's a lot of Tom in all of us. Whether that's a good thing is something I believe "(500) Days of Summer" is asking us to decide.<br /><br />**** stars (out of five)Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-90012450804509054952009-07-29T12:49:00.011-04:002009-07-30T09:44:59.756-04:00The resurgence of the TV sitcom<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaAUlumIgVIsDlRWIPectxviIE59Oqx7l17LoseL-ObYyRVRsbGEDy9BpxdC1YAvKQX0RPeKwWjAUi1lOPsRWSGoRWiq-_tyedReIMZ1ihvauB4HyEsq6cWe-yqnAwCtA5KV9I9TSw0jA/s1600-h/TheMerger.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaAUlumIgVIsDlRWIPectxviIE59Oqx7l17LoseL-ObYyRVRsbGEDy9BpxdC1YAvKQX0RPeKwWjAUi1lOPsRWSGoRWiq-_tyedReIMZ1ihvauB4HyEsq6cWe-yqnAwCtA5KV9I9TSw0jA/s320/TheMerger.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363930200600874274" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOf7mhAXo7VHs9Seo5QM8W8UIlR5Oo4fuJCGqrT4G2Jmp6qZnLkMpxoR-i7UI8vGsrfD14Ve4Na3i9Up1Of9dMNareBEP1U7lBYb_VqtarXGkZ-gvAxpFAiSiqN6DsOJ9_-f5PW4y7yJ5/s1600-h/Howimetyourmother.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOf7mhAXo7VHs9Seo5QM8W8UIlR5Oo4fuJCGqrT4G2Jmp6qZnLkMpxoR-i7UI8vGsrfD14Ve4Na3i9Up1Of9dMNareBEP1U7lBYb_VqtarXGkZ-gvAxpFAiSiqN6DsOJ9_-f5PW4y7yJ5/s320/Howimetyourmother.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363930048332493810" /></a><br /><br /><br />Every summer a thorny set of TV critics decides their take on the fall preview will be to bemoan the lack of high-quality shows set to air in the coming September and (their words, not mine) the dearth of worthwhile situation comedies.<br /><br />Sometimes these jaded scribes will cross the line from pathetic to pretentious by actually declaring the sitcom officially dead.<br /><br />But if they really believe that, I think they should probably check their pulses; it’s possible that they are the departed. At the very least their funny bones have been badly broken.<br /><br />I say if you can’t find something both original and funny on TV today you’re not looking hard enough. In fact, I’d argue that there’s been a comedy resurgence over the last five years. I offer two stellar sitcoms under the age of six to prove my point: How I Met Your Mother and The Office (US).<br /><br />How I Met Your Mother offers a most original device in the way it plays with time, shifting from present-to-past-to-future and back again in a single episode. The storyline’s pieces are purposefully jumbled up and thrown in the air for viewers to catch and lovingly put back in order. It’s a daring way to tell a story and, for the viewer, highly satisfying.<br /><br />Ted, the main character/narrator, tells stories to his kids in every episode about how he met their mother, who is never named. The young, hilarious cast, which includes Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel, brings Ted’s memories to life. The “Is that her?” guessing game piques our curiosity but it’s also what keeps propelling the series forward.<br /><br />The Office (US) is an American take on a successful UK series starring the cringe-inducing specialist Ricky Gervais, so it’s not a unique concept. Still, the US series, about a mid-level paper company, has made its mark in several ways.<br /><br />The UK version offered up a total of 12 30-minute shows and two 45-minute Christmas specials – albeit by design; it’s a typical series length for many UK-based shows filmed for the BBC – but the Office (US) has managed to stretch the concept for 100 episodes and five seasons, and it’s almost as fresh now as it was in season one.<br /><br />It also assembled a better cast, having nabbed the super-hot Steve Carrell as its lead just before his movie career exploded, and hired a supporting cast of near unknowns who act so bravely silly that you can’t look away.<br /><br />The show’s ace in the hole is its documentary style. Cameras follow characters almost everywhere. Some of the funniest scenes are meant to look like they’ve been surreptitiously shot, through the partially obscured glass office windows. The combination of intentional and (seemingly) unintentional laughs is unusual and irresistible. There’s no laugh track, and there doesn’t need to be.<br /><br />So take another look before you trash all sitcoms, critics. There are a lot more quality laughs to be had than you think. Oh, and you might want to get an X-ray for that funny bone.Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-61162751827068635542009-07-20T14:18:00.006-04:002009-07-20T14:57:38.756-04:00The Room hits Toronto this Friday (July 24th)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3gzL-AoMv1FgpQLxd0hLxQhRuLb1LaJ99a3HZZUj6pK1zF2kRr499zOq5Kwhoh-ex1fZeJCrAjf9Zj0TsXBpW7tM5iL3tIoThL7c0KD2LyGr5OChHN02EVUqjsOPLWUKhyi6pKe9dSqn/s1600-h/Tommy+Wiseau.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3gzL-AoMv1FgpQLxd0hLxQhRuLb1LaJ99a3HZZUj6pK1zF2kRr499zOq5Kwhoh-ex1fZeJCrAjf9Zj0TsXBpW7tM5iL3tIoThL7c0KD2LyGr5OChHN02EVUqjsOPLWUKhyi6pKe9dSqn/s320/Tommy+Wiseau.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360613625218319554" /></a><br /><br /><br />My last post was about Tommy Wiseau's "masterpiece" "The Room."<br /><br />You may be excited to hear that the film will finally make its Canadian debut this Friday (July 24th) at 11:30pm, in the first of three scheduled showings at Toronto's Royal Cinema (College St. and Clinton). <br /><br />Sure, it's a late start time, but if you're looking for a unique movie experience you've found it! A movie this bad doesn't come along very often. In fact, a movie this bad usually has to be rented in order to be seen. It's definitely got to be seen to be believed. Anyway, "The Room" is tailor-made for this type of Midnight Madness showtime.<br /><br />If you love bad films - and trust me this one is <em>bad </em>- you'll love "The Room."<br /><br />Showings are also scheduled at the Royal for August 21st and September 25th. <br /><br />Oh, and if you end up going to one of these shows, please be sure to let me know what you thought of it!<br /><br />Media MelAdam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-3672324938317298832009-04-24T10:34:00.029-04:002009-06-09T11:02:44.264-04:00Bad movies that hurt so good<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb96DNLwNd9UO5kpl883_44_st4MVsjzoZeElMXKfiF8deAwoLZCxPBklLzKV5_uYK64psSfj-6jXdXIgGl2sFz0U7fB9Fetd9jfpfVoaulXpFPv1hgp6znXug3UlxqvtChe6Fz6h_7tXh/s1600-h/TheRoomMovie.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343553051585359618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb96DNLwNd9UO5kpl883_44_st4MVsjzoZeElMXKfiF8deAwoLZCxPBklLzKV5_uYK64psSfj-6jXdXIgGl2sFz0U7fB9Fetd9jfpfVoaulXpFPv1hgp6znXug3UlxqvtChe6Fz6h_7tXh/s320/TheRoomMovie.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I'm generally not prone to celebrating other people's failures but when it comes to a really bad movie I'm guilty of a touch of <em>schadenfreude.</em> To make a truly horrible film - which becomes known as such for many years - is indeed an artistic talent, albeit an accidental one.<br /><br />Edward D. Wood Jr. is often cited as the worst filmmaker of all-time. The writer, director and actor made many films, but his most well known - popular is the wrong word - were "Glen or Glenda," "Bride of the Monster" and "Plan 9 From Outer Space." He is immortalized by Tim Burton in the film "Ed Wood," which starred Johnny Depp as Wood, but was not seen by many (budget: $18 million, domestic gross: $5.9 million). You should rent "Ed Wood," as it's a fascinating study of the man and the low-budget movie making business. If you're daring and enjoy a good chuckle, rent some of Wood's actual films.<br /><br />Like any movie buff, I have seen scores of bad movies over the years. Truly horrible ones? Far fewer.</div><div><br />There are differences not only in the degree of "bad," but also in type. There's "bad" boring, "bad" dumb, and even "bad" inane - but then there's also "bad" hilarious. In other words, most bad movies will leave you annoyed, frustrated and/or confused, and in some cases actually move you to anger. Generally they all lead to disappointment. In contrast, an awful movie can be quite satisfying. </div><br /><div>And making a hilariously bad movie takes talent - or at least some rare combination of tenaciousness, an utter lack of moviemaking skills and a void where your self-awareness gene should be.<br /><br />Tommy Wiseau, the director and writer of "The Room" has talent. This movie is by far the worst I have ever seen. But it's wonderful. It should be required viewing for every film school student as an example (well hundreds, really) of what not to do when trying to make a movie.<br /><br />"The Room" is ostensibly a drama about a guy named Johnny (played by Wiseau) whose girlfriend Lisa is cheating on him with his best friend, Mark. That's pretty much it for the story, although you can tell in an interview in the DVD's extras that Wiseau thinks there's a lot more going on.<br /></div><br /><div>Johnny is supposed to be a successful American businessman, loved by his friends and respected by all. But Wiseau's heavy (European?) accent is obvious in every scene. Plus, his character is often mocked. And for some reason Johnny's not good at eye contact. I don't think it's intentional, it's just bad acting.<br /><br />Going into too much more detail will ruin the experience of the Room, should you choose to watch it. Suffice it to say, the dialogue is pathetic, the staging and art direction are lame (my wife swears she saw the Sesame Street set, complete with Oscar's trash can), the unrealistic greenscreen scenes - and interminable love scenes - will leave you howling, and the acting is pedestrian in most cases. Still, I have to give an honourable mention to the actress (over)playing Lisa's mother. Someone should report her to the acting police; her list of offences is long. <br /><br />I heard about "The Room" from an article in <em>Entertainment Weekly</em> <a href="http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20246031,00.html">http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20246031,00.html</a> that explains its whole history, which is fascinating but too lengthy to go into here. Apparently many hollywood stars love the movie, including Will Arnett, Paul Rudd and Kristen Bell. Bell even hosts "The Room" viewing parties. There are midnight viewings in some US cities (staged in a similar way to showings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show) and Wiseau sometimes shows up. He insists "The Room" is supposed to be partly comedic and the DVD cover mentions the film's black humour. Don't be fooled. It's meant to be a drama. And that just makes it so much better. </div><br /><div>When I tried to rent "The Room" I couldn't find a single video store carrying it in downtown Toronto so I ordered it online. It was more than a box office bomb when it came out in 2003 (estimated gross $1,900), but Wiseau still paid for a DVD release. I'm so glad that he did.</div><br /><div>If you love hilariously bad movies I recommend you get your hands on a copy too. But don't ask to borrow mine. I don't know that I could ever part with it. I'm no collector, but it's definitely one of my most prized possessions.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-76886040834811933152009-04-15T15:42:00.058-04:002009-05-15T14:52:20.251-04:00Billy Bob's plea: pretend I'm not me<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVf83-wN71Kg0tnROmr-6jyMNUsh_2gI_bQETrATRY7JIkykKz2nF3JRvPaWlWhxpk31FBgsHSntBNiT5mH4d14vv1EQ7BjsTDUvar8EmGbaZr_LouLcyiA7kTkecP571QaJHNd5rVpQF/s1600-h/BillyBobThornton.jpg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336125176801371714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVf83-wN71Kg0tnROmr-6jyMNUsh_2gI_bQETrATRY7JIkykKz2nF3JRvPaWlWhxpk31FBgsHSntBNiT5mH4d14vv1EQ7BjsTDUvar8EmGbaZr_LouLcyiA7kTkecP571QaJHNd5rVpQF/s320/BillyBobThornton.jpg.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The uproar Billy Bob Thornton caused during a recent interview on CBC Radio One's Q program brought to the surface the issue of disclosure, and specifically what subjects can or should be considered off limits during an interview.<br /><br />If you're not familiar with the story, Thornton went on the radio on April 8th (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJWS6qyy7bw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJWS6qyy7bw</a>) to promote his band the Boxmasters but immediately became uncooperative and difficult when his movie career was mentioned in the show's introduction. He said Q producers - and by extension its host - were "instructed" not to discuss it.<br /><br />Now I always thought personal things such as a recent breakup or the death of a loved one were topics that could be considered out of bounds to an interviewer. Apparently Billy Bob Thornton's list of don't-go-there topics is a bit broader.<br /><br />The host of Q, Jian Ghomeshi, was clearly taken aback when Thornton began the interview by answering basic questions like "How long has the band been together?" with "I don't know," and "I don't understand the question." His band members seemed surprised too. Probably because, whether he was "instructed" to or not, Ghomeshi was actually trying to respect the wishes of his famous guest. Ghomeshi never asked Thornton questions about his movie career, though he tried to ask him several about music. And, when things came to a head, Ghomeshi also explained that the only reason films were brought up at all was to give listeners some context - in the intro - about what they were about to hear. "There's plenty of context without all that," Thornton shot back.<br /><br />Thornton seemed to want to pretend this particular day that he had never been involved in films. When he was asked if music has always been his passion, he responded with "Would you ask Tom Petty that question?" He also hinted that the host was insinuating that music was no more than a hobby for him. In fact, Ghomeshi's questioning indicated that he thought the opposite was true and he gave Thornton a couple of chances to corroborate the theory.<br /><br />The interview only continued for two reasons:<br />1. Thornton's bandmates gamely answered some questions.<br />2. Ghomeshi managed to keep his cool and didn't just shut down the whole thing in disgust.<br /><br />But it wasn't pretty, and it left listeners fuming - mostly because Thornton made a point of insulting Canadian audiences. "We tend to play places where people throw things at each other," he said. "Here, they just sort of sit there. And it doesn't matter what you say to 'em . . . It's mashed potatoes but no gravy." Not exactly a testament to the fine character of the Boxmasters' US fan base, but I think Thornton was just trying to strike out at Ghomeshi at that point.<br /><br />Thornton also refused to sing a scheduled live song at the end of the program, claiming that he was the drummer (in fact he's the singer, and drums occasionally) and didn't have his drums.<br /><br />So was he just really tired that morning? Hung over? High? None of these excuses could justify his abhorrent behavior. He wanted the right to control the interview and figured he had the clout to demand that right. But it's not like Q would be incapable of booking a good alternative guest. He and the Boxmasters were lucky to be there.<br /><br />And let's assume for a moment that big-name guests on Q were allowed to set the agenda for their interviews ahead of time. Would Tom Cruise be allowed to come on the program after demanding that no one mention movies he starred in that made less than $50 million at the box office? Could Kevin Costner say no in advance to all "Waterworld" questions? It's a slippery slope.<br /><br />The reason a near-unknown band like the Boxmasters got on national radio in Canada was because a certain actor, writer and movie director is the band's singer. No doubt that's also why Willie Nelson asked them to open for him (along with Ray Price) on his current Canadian tour. To pretend any different is both disingenuous and hypocritical.<br /><br />And this wasn't the end of the story for the Boxmasters. After a Toronto stop that earned mixed reviews in the papers - and boos from the audience when Thornton told them Ghomeshi didn't keep his word about not discussing his movie career - the Boxmasters quit the tour. No reason was given, except for a claim that certain members of the band, other than its singer, had the flu.<br />Perhaps Thornton realized that public opinion around the issue of reasonable disclosure was not swaying to his rhythm. I wonder if the rest of the Boxmasters were as keen to jump off Willie Nelson's tour bus. I doubt it. They have nothing to fall back on.</div>Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-59384835621549911482009-04-06T13:25:00.024-04:002009-10-02T12:20:48.335-04:00Review: One Week<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuU-u_xhJ2Un1NF1rDN3jgDJc0NuZT37d44T0YCLkacgb2GD_Ou7__NZ7VFJJI_zlmwnPrziSN4rSyla6xSp0ny0ztj1K64_omNdaKZrlpYyXaHkaVGJzRZgVEh5HCNKt9lN_pGgCdFl8v/s1600-h/One_week_poster.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuU-u_xhJ2Un1NF1rDN3jgDJc0NuZT37d44T0YCLkacgb2GD_Ou7__NZ7VFJJI_zlmwnPrziSN4rSyla6xSp0ny0ztj1K64_omNdaKZrlpYyXaHkaVGJzRZgVEh5HCNKt9lN_pGgCdFl8v/s320/One_week_poster.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388038350909049090" /></a><br /><br /><br />The synopsis for the recently released feature film "One Week" doesn't exactly sound like fun: it's about a guy in his mid-20s who finds out he has cancer and decides, on a whim, to take a week-long road trip across Canada on a motorcycle.<br /><br />You'd be forgiven for assuming this was a recipe for filmic doom and gloom. But it isn't. This movie is insightful, funny, touching, challenging, lyrical and subtly beautiful. And it's the best I've seen so far in 2009.<br /><br />Joshua Jackson is Ben Tyler, a recently engaged, private school teacher with a fine family who - if you were to add up the good parts of his life - should be a very happy young man. When he is forced to face his own mortality, he starts to closely analyze each of these parts, and they don't always stand up well to the increased scrutiny.<br /><br />The problem with any movie dominated by a long road trip is the gaps. The gaps in conversation, the lack of interaction, the times when, just as the film's characters are, you're forced to just stare out at the countryside and think about stuff. With a single main character, you'd expect to experience many more of these problematic gaps. <div><br /></div><div>But there are very few. Director and writer Michael McGowan (who also directed 2004's "Saint Ralph") fills up the journey with a number of things to chew on: the gorgeous cinematography, the interesting (not uniformly quirky - don't worry indie-haters) people Ben meets, his emotional stumbling blocks, his physical travel challenges and a phenomenal soundtrack.<br /><br />The movie's Canadian. I didn't have to mention that because it makes no difference, but when you note the quality of this production it's worth pointing out that it was shot on a budget of only $1.9 million. Also, McGowan clearly benefits from his special understanding of Canadians; he knows what makes us tick. Plus, he knows that we love our country - even if we aren't the kind of nation that shouts it out to the rest of the world.<br /><br />Jackson is perfect as the movie's hero. His character is not an angel and he's not a bad man, but he is going through something profound, and Jackson's measured performance shows a maturity he hasn't demonstrated in his acting until now. Liane Balaban is moving in the complex role of Ben's fiance.</div><div><br />"One Week" is not a tearjerker. It's not a cancer movie. It's a satisfying and fulfilling ride, containing a number of juicy surprises, along with fresh insight into the human condition. Word of mouth is the only way this one will be widely seen. Make sure you don't miss it.<br /><br />****1/2 (out of five)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediamel.ca/">http://www.mediamel.ca/</a><br /><br /><div><br /></div></div>Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-77178107711408262892009-04-02T13:05:00.014-04:002009-10-02T12:25:15.790-04:00Stunted sequels<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLIPybVN-_WwfSfgevG_7JdTGvfcpiul3DX-SzlZhG6qZHAopnMjZdoBIjTSlCsZU4xtOS1Mo7-4bm383zBtCoyhyYM74tsqmyF3iMKC3BdTjahg-FkjX5-ISsEwNLPSeuB0mFBRGHk5N/s1600-h/Ghostbusters_cover.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLIPybVN-_WwfSfgevG_7JdTGvfcpiul3DX-SzlZhG6qZHAopnMjZdoBIjTSlCsZU4xtOS1Mo7-4bm383zBtCoyhyYM74tsqmyF3iMKC3BdTjahg-FkjX5-ISsEwNLPSeuB0mFBRGHk5N/s320/Ghostbusters_cover.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388039524641463250" /></a><br /><br /><br />How do you feel about movie studios churning out sequels to popular movies? How about decades later? With different actors?<br /><br />Here's a story about two possible examples: <a href="http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/04/sony-developing.html">http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/04/sony-developing.html</a><br /><br /><br /><blockquote><em>During a presentation at the movie industry's annual ShoWest convention in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Sony distribution president Rory Bruer said that the studio is going back for thirds on the Ghostbusters and Men in Black franchises. Now, of course, the question on everyone's mind is: Who will be starring in said monster-fighting movies? Sony isn't talking (Bruer's announcement arrived almost in passing), but it is expected that Ivan Reitman, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, and Dan Aykroyd will return to be involved to some degree on a followup to 1989's Ghostbusters II.</em><br /><br /><br /></blockquote><blockquote><p><em>Meanwhile, Men in Black III is in even more of a nascent stage. Sony won't comment on whether Will Smith will be involved in the project in any way, either as an actor or producer.</em></p></blockquote><br /><br />Ghostbusters and Men In Black were a lot of fun - and their sequels weren't bad either - but why I liked them had an awful lot to do with stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. These gifted comic actors were key to my enjoyment, especially considering the type of high concept comedy in both of these movies.<br /><br />Having them cameo in the sequels isn't going to bring me into the theatre. Younger, hotter actors won't sway me either. Maybe I'm a stickler, but how can you even call something a sequel if its lead actors are, for all intents and purposes, MIA?<br /><br />Would you go and see a third Ghostbusters or Men in Black movie if its original stars were only there as window dressing, or is there a lot more to films like these than their stars?Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-28848659517164530482009-03-29T15:10:00.058-04:002013-04-14T18:09:54.865-04:00Review: I Love You, Man<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi1V8rtFIM9qlC1Qku2kiyDDIeIy2V_j1T6K_TIqD-jvEjZ6ET2qFYIaMvzCvbmVY9NMkwlsAe1KiDAlhx15E2dfbnsmZqBZTF3QKy3454l1NqZhs5Lhkklx8BGEBQdGQVpy_J14tK4_Z/s1600-h/I+Love+You+Man.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi1V8rtFIM9qlC1Qku2kiyDDIeIy2V_j1T6K_TIqD-jvEjZ6ET2qFYIaMvzCvbmVY9NMkwlsAe1KiDAlhx15E2dfbnsmZqBZTF3QKy3454l1NqZhs5Lhkklx8BGEBQdGQVpy_J14tK4_Z/s320/I+Love+You+Man.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388038693641302194" /></a><br />
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I used to dread the thought of Hollywood taking yet another stab at the buddy picture.<br />
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You know, over the last 30 or 40 years we got the good cop/bad cop movie, then it was black cop/white cop, then old cop/new cop. When the two-cop flicks started to bore people, studios moved on to other non-cop buddy combos: obnoxious/meek buddies, cool/geeky buddies, gay/straight buddies, successful/unsuccessful buddies. They used up all those buddy types too.<br />
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Thankfully, every year or two a few deft filmmakers figure out a formula for a buddy picture that crackles with a bit of originality. The crude but hilarious "Wedding Crashers" (2005) is an example of a tandem (Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson) that clicked mightily with viewers and reviewers. As serial wedding crashers in their mid-30s who eventually start to question the wisdom (and long-term viability) of their lifestyle, the buddies do get into their share of disagreements. But the movie didn't dwell on the two guys' differences. There weren't that many, in fact. As raunchy as the movie got at times, it actually dealt with the topic of growing up - and, to a lesser extent, falling in love.<br />
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Now there's another fine buddy picture in theatres, and I'd say it has just as intriguing a concept.<br />
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"I Love You, Man" is about a real estate agent named Peter Klaven who proposes to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones) but quickly discovers he has no male friends to speak of, and likely won't have time to rustle up a best man before his wedding. Paul Rudd plays the sensitive but clueless, metrosexual Klaven, whose attempts to track down a friend through a series of "man dates" service the amusing premise of "I Love You, Man." <p></p>It's co-written and directed by John Hamburg, who also helmed and wrote the Ben Stiller comedy "Along Came Polly" (2004) and co-wrote Stiller's "Meet the Parents"(2000) and its sequel. It's a joyful romp, mainly because Rudd is so believable - and so awkwardly funny. He doesn't get his laughs via the typical channels, ie: glib one-liners or broad slapstick. He earns them through a seemingly endless string of verbal missteps and some delicious - for those who like this kind of thing - cringe-inducing dweebiness. His tendency to embarrass himself in almost every situation involving other men makes you wonder how he's risen as far as he has in his real estate career.<br />
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As the movie poster will tell you, Jason Segel plays the man date who just may be the one to click with Peter. Segel's Sydney Fife is an easygoing bear of a man, without pretence, who loves the Canadian band Rush, his dog, and living near the beach. Will Sydney see through Peter's ineptitude and embrace his friendship in time for the wedding? I hope you'll go and find out.<br />
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The thing I liked most about "I Love You, Man" was its commitment to its stated goal, which was to explore the phenomenon of "bromantic love" (the studio's term, not mine - unfortunately)." Also, I respect Hamburg for not letting it devolve into a typical boy-messes-up-and-apologizes-to-the-girl-just-in-time romantic comedy. In the process of making me laugh, it got me thinking about what it takes to find, hold and keep a man friend. And it showed me it's a lot more difficult than you might think, especially when time is tight.<br />
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"I Love You, Man" is not up to the same level of "The Wedding Crashers," but it's an entertaining, occasionally hilarious film. It also reinforces the notion (begun last year with the comedy "Role Models") that Paul Rudd is a terrific comedic leading man, not just a supporting player. Best of all, "I Love You, Man" bucks the odds and resurects the tired, old buddy picture. And that's definitely something to celebrate.<br />
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****stars (out of five)Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-75615594503038714332009-03-19T09:19:00.045-04:002009-10-02T12:23:03.674-04:00Movie reviewers: spill less, kill less<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-581Lk_yg5Faxx5fK1t6TJ_6dBs8r8jYDeqCS90cEsogRTJlorg82nGDAIPYDoM44ZycaQLeXfOXNMT-ttmi47LN3TyM-vAwcBWVSWl9hKIbHaKrLkB1OCSzOMzZ7xXeg-Jy_pqTKh3-C/s1600-h/reviewing.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-581Lk_yg5Faxx5fK1t6TJ_6dBs8r8jYDeqCS90cEsogRTJlorg82nGDAIPYDoM44ZycaQLeXfOXNMT-ttmi47LN3TyM-vAwcBWVSWl9hKIbHaKrLkB1OCSzOMzZ7xXeg-Jy_pqTKh3-C/s320/reviewing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388038945223846290" /></a><br /><br />How far should a movie reviewer go when describing plot elements?<br /><br />It's not easy finding the right balance.<br /><br />However, I think reviewers who outline entire stories and sprinkle in the odd observation are movie killers. Roger Ebert is one. After all, there's no sense in seeing a movie if you know everything; you'll just be ticking off a list of events as they happen. Wouldn't you rather concentrate on other more interesting things, like the music, the cinematography or maybe the dialogue?<br /><br />Informed viewers read magazines or keep track of upcoming releases online. They know general plot summaries, who's in what and whether it's likely to be a bomb or a revelation. They may not want to know more until they actually hit the multiplexes.<br /><br />Some super-serious movie fans wait for many years for Hollywood (or another country's filmmakers) to adapt stories. This is certainly the case for fans of "Watchmen," a comic book series that many believed was unfilmable but is now doing reasonably well in theatres. (According to Wired.com's <em>Underwire</em> blog (<a href="http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2009/03/watchmen-receip.html">http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2009/03/watchmen-receip.html</a>) the film will easily make back Warner Bros' $200 million investment - and probably a lot more after the DVD release). Fans of films like these don't need much from reviewers. Actually rabid fans are almost impervious to poor reviews.<br /><br />Yes, there are people who spend little time thinking about movies before their release dates, and they want reviews to help them make intelligent choices. And there's value for all in knowing if a movie is bad or good.<br /><br />But there's a fine line between reviewing and deconstructing.<br /><br />Personally, if a reviewer has told me the whole story before I've had the chance to see it unfold naturally, it's impossible for me to enjoy it. I want a movie to take me somewhere, but I don't want the road map and a pen to trace it with. I want a story to wash over me. The journey is the experience.<br /><br />Here's my message to reviewers who get their jollies from spilling beans: save the grade-four-book-report-style reviews for grade four book reports. Set up the story without telling it all. Tease me a bit. Tell me why the movie is unique, who directed it and who's in it. Tell me cool stories about how the movie came to be. Hell, tell me anything that's relevant and interesting, just don't give away the whole thing.<br /><br />If you truly love movies - and I assume you do - keep the magic alive long enough for your readers to experience it too. Don't be a movie killer. It's not your job.Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-58289077059942232952009-03-12T08:40:00.044-04:002009-03-20T13:40:05.361-04:00The film experience: Will you still love me tomorrow?When was the last time you saw a movie that grabbed you hard and wouldn't let you go? You know, one that really made you <em>think</em>.<br /><br /><div><br /><br /><p>I don't just mean one with a complicated plot, I'm talking about a film so <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7v5pe4jCzql5HKBtmgcJoI4IvHqC3jhKRw2vZ_CV3RMqmIVD9UzG-R9xmLperyT8juFQ1p522st4lF_PNgANwkJpcu2OeRYMzbajtXbWezT4w6JDf9yJprqJTn53V4HaK0PzNRIBzF-1/s1600-h/Reader_ver2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312731073369283842" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 135px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7v5pe4jCzql5HKBtmgcJoI4IvHqC3jhKRw2vZ_CV3RMqmIVD9UzG-R9xmLperyT8juFQ1p522st4lF_PNgANwkJpcu2OeRYMzbajtXbWezT4w6JDf9yJprqJTn53V4HaK0PzNRIBzF-1/s200/Reader_ver2.jpg" border="0" /></a>engaging or compelling that you found yourself daydreaming about it for the next week or two or three (when, let's face it, you should have been working)?</p><br /><p>And does that make it a good film? </p><br /><p>I guess it depends to a certain extent on what you want to take away from your movie experience. I have friends who just want to zone out for 90-120 minutes, plow through a jumbo popcorn and a Coke and go home. For these viewers, all but the name of the movie may be a distant memory by the time head hits pillow, and that's just fine with them.</p><br /><p>I'm not dismissing this type of experience, but I tend to hold most movies to a higher standard. What I really like is when a story gets stuck to me, like a piece of double-sided tape fusing two of my fingers, and I just can't shake it off.</p><br /><p>The Oscar nominated "The Reader" is one such story. I admit that I approached this particular movie night with trepidation because of the reviews I scanned (I never read full reviews until after; don't want a spoiler ruining my night!). They were mixed. As I write this, <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/">http://www.rottentomatoes.com/</a> gives it 61% fresh approval rating, meaning 61% per cent of the reviewers the site includes in its consensus ratings offered a positive review. This is quite a low rating for this site; most Best Picture nominees hit well over 80 per cent.</p><br /><p>But "The Reader" was superb. I came away with questions about the characters' motivations and actions - and inaction - that kept me going for days. I thought that Kate Winslet and 15-year-old German actor David Kross, who played her lover, were heartbreaking. Ralph Fiennes, playing the 15-year-old as an older man, was wonderful too, and he had to breathe life into a brooding, rather troubled man. I don't believe his Michael Berg character ever cracks a smile.</p><br /><p>I found "Slumdog Millionaire" to be a glorious film too. Why? Because I cared deeply for the main characters and I wanted them to succeed, against terrible odds. The visuals, the music, the cinematography in "Slumdog" was superior to the other films I saw in 2008, which helped burn it into my brain. I still think about it often.</p><br /><p>Yet I saw several movies last summer that I also loved. "Iron Man" and "The Dark Knight." were both incredibly exciting, offering farfetched but highly entertaining story lines, good acting, frightening villains (especially Heath Ledger's Joker, possibly the most terrifying screen villain of all time) and cool effects. On the comedic side, "Tropic Thunder" was a hilarious send-up of the filmmaking and actor's processes.</p><br /><p>The problem is I can't honestly remember much about "Iron Man" or "The Dark Knight" today. I know that they contained excellent action scenes but I can't recall more than a few. I can't even remember their climactic hero-versus-villain battles. Not good - and I have a pretty good memory for such things. And "Tropic Thunder" made me laugh hard, but it feels like a distant memory.</p><br /><p>Sure, there are movies that get better upon repeated viewings. They get under your skin because you uncover more layers to them and you like what you're uncovering. You can even learn to appreciate what you first thought was a bad movie. Maybe my three summer movies will get better with age, and another viewing. </p><br /><p>But a film that you love right away and think about a lot afterward - like "The Reader" for me - is bound to stay with you the longest. Have a think about your favorite movies of all time. Do they fall into the "acquired tastes" or "thinkers" category? I'm guessing the latter.</p><br /><p>So next time you find yourself daydreaming about a movie you saw recently, let your friends know about it. It's probably a good sign.</p><br /><p></p></div>Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-21768602544935945632009-03-09T13:02:00.002-04:002009-03-20T13:41:17.405-04:0030 Rock's Liz Lemon<div>I'm in love with Liz Lemon.<br /><br />For those who are unfamiliar, Lemon (played by Tina Fey) is the chief character on the hit show 30 Rock, a sitcom about a Saturday Night Live-ish variety program and the people who run it. The show also stars Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan and a bevy of high-profile celebrity guest stars. Past visitors have included Jerry Seinfeld, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Martin and Jennifer Aniston.<br /><br />Anyway, the reason I love Liz Lemon is the reason most of us love our sitcom characters: they are flawed and they are <em>funny</em>.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8ngUj6vABmYBqqeimVojJaoHuNfWug5KxB1OKPu0QekmGbliT0Sm-KGpRKyNfeVPpj5bRXw3peiyPIpu4MfPG-9xUZH2vEYZTRdrmumm_JkfiAwE6idjOLcMzs88UP8W-zh7t_W06-jF/s1600-h/250px-Tina_Fey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312378735935591122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 259px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8ngUj6vABmYBqqeimVojJaoHuNfWug5KxB1OKPu0QekmGbliT0Sm-KGpRKyNfeVPpj5bRXw3peiyPIpu4MfPG-9xUZH2vEYZTRdrmumm_JkfiAwE6idjOLcMzs88UP8W-zh7t_W06-jF/s320/250px-Tina_Fey.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And Fey, who is also executive producer and a writer on 30 Rock, provides laughs in a number of ways. We laugh as the cringe-inducing Lemon tries her luck at dating and falls flat - with a soothing consistency. We laugh whenever she loses patience with her harmless, but ultimately hopeless, underlings. We love knowing that any character with a racist, homophobic or other offending nature will be skewered - for humor - in the end.<br /><br />Besides having a knack for zippy dialogue, somehow Fey has figured out both why her own life is funny and how to skillfully translate that onto the screen.<br /><br />For example, her line "I want to go to there," delivered robotically whenever she sees something - or someone she wants (such as love interest and recent guest star Jon Hamm of the hit TV series Mad Men) kills every time. Fey's source? Her three-and-a-half year old daughter, who, according to Fey, uttered the words after viewing a commercial on TV for Disney World.<br /><br />Of course the line wouldn't be funny without the extra "to." It would also fail if used in context; ie: if a kid said it. Fey's delivery, and the way she morphs it into something for the adult world, makes it great.<br /><br />When it comes to acting, I'd say Fey was the weak link among the principals in season one. I wouldn't say that anymore. Unlike Seinfeld, whose horrible acting you could forgive on an ongoing basis because it was happening inside the bubble of a dream ensemble cast, Fey has elevated her game and now fits alongside the rest of 30 Rock's stars.<br /><br />What about the supporting cast? Alec Baldwin has proven his knack for comedy several times in recent years as guest host on SNL and frankly his Jack Donaghy character could have his own show and I'd watch it (as long as Fey was still writing it). Tracy Morgan, playing a kookier version of himself, is usually good for several chuckles per episode.<br /><br />So 30 Rock and Liz Lemon equals good comedy. Why is that blogworthy?<br /><br />Because I believe Fey is providing something we can really use on television: a hilarious female character who: isn't a nasty, <em>House</em>-like or Glenn Close in <em>Damages</em>-type meany; doesn't rely on double entendres to make you snicker; and who definitely isn't a character who tickles your heartstrings along with your funny bone.<br /><br />Liz Lemon is silly, she's goofy, she's wacky - take your pick - but Fey's comedy is smart. And 30 Rock is working for me. On a weekly basis, "I want to go to there."<br /><br />That's why I'm in love with Liz Lemon.</div>Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313579197763837809.post-79287695211205294672009-03-09T12:13:00.004-04:002009-03-20T13:42:20.698-04:00Welcome<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZq_obvbRykorrmNYERCTEmQ4Ub1lguI9W3h8lvxp_hXXPsKzp5CXW6JyrsUWwB7GXeDBG_CcdPZvLRrgbSqsf9CU_8zp243ntRE0XE7d2oZrA57Zn0WbPwOzzS-OhCv29fsvOQA5Xk4X/s1600-h/photo_4942_20090302.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312387993093159122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZq_obvbRykorrmNYERCTEmQ4Ub1lguI9W3h8lvxp_hXXPsKzp5CXW6JyrsUWwB7GXeDBG_CcdPZvLRrgbSqsf9CU_8zp243ntRE0XE7d2oZrA57Zn0WbPwOzzS-OhCv29fsvOQA5Xk4X/s320/photo_4942_20090302.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I've always wanted to write, in some forum, about movies and the media. I've written about many things over the years, but never these. Since I am a movie fan and media junkie, I feel I'm able to throw at least a semi-qualified opinion out there every few days. With that, I welcome you to the Media Mel blog.<br /><br /><br />Whether you agree with the statements here or not I hope you enjoy them. Post your opinions if you get the urge. Tell me I'm full of it (politely). Your participation will go a long way to making this blog better.<br /><br /></p><p>Media Mel</p><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/">Free photos</a> for websites - FreeDigitalPhotos.net</p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p>Adam Pletschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01607887503433781367noreply@blogger.com0