**1/2
What is it about this film that has everyone so enraptured? The story of a quirky family is such a manipulative piece of cliche it could have been written using a touch-tone survey. Cranky grampa? Check. Ambivalent teen? Check. Precocious child? Check. Sensible mother? Check. A journey that is a metephor for...oh my gosh, a Life Journey! Check. Alright, alright, I'll give it some props where they are truly earned. Its the story of little girl who, through [script] circumstances that cannot be resolved any other way at all, ends up roadtripping with her family to California for the Little Miss Sunshine pageant. Quirky characters and hilarity ensue. Of course, we cannot have a regular car for this journey - no, no. Its got to be the quirky yellow van that - and this one is So Funny! - does not run well. I hope they make it to California!! Please. Alan Arkin was the highlight of the movie for me (SAG-nominated and hopefully Oscar-nominated too). His first scene as he saunters into the kitchen with his "thoughts" on dinner is hilarious, honest, and priceless. Another scene toward the end as the family is trying to find the right exit for the hotel rings dead-on true for anyone who has does the same (I can see but hardly ever GET to the Ikea off of 290 in Schaumburg on the first shot). And why oh why does Greg Kinnear have to ride that damn moped down a freeway caught between 2 semi's? What is this? Dude Where's My Car II? Toni Collette is fine as the mother, the ambivalent teen is boring and I wanted to smack him, and Steve Carrell is good as the suicidal uncle (and as opposed to comedians Will Ferrell or Jim Carey, Carrell shows ease with dramatic performance). Nevertheless, the story held my interest, and I chuckled at more than one or two scenes. I just wish the 2 first-time co-directors would have done away with so many crutches and just stode confidently on a strong story and good acting. It will be interesting to see what they do next.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
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2 comments:
Yes, it sounds like you suffered from the high expectations over-hyped films can bring. I saw Miss Sunshine before it became the “Sideways” of 2006 and found it charming, entertaining and harmless (***), but not Best of the Year quality. I got hit three times last year by disappointments brought from film critics and other media’s tendency to over-inflate a film’s achievements.
Casino Royale (*1/2)
James Bond, newly anointed with a license to kill, is sent to confront a man known to fund terrorism and (oh, the thrill of it) beat him at poker. Along the way, we witness Bond’s enthralling transformation from uber-buff, plucked and waxed metero rogue to uber-buff, plucked and waxed metero rogue with a fussy drink order. Fill it up with two hours of standard-issue drink poisonings, seductions of the villain’s girlfriend, and lots and lots of car chases, stir lightly (for God’s sake, don’t shake it up) and serve at room temperature.
The Departed (**)
“I left The Departed shaken” is what one film critic said about this bland piece of Scorsesean melodrama. What movie did everyone see that I missed? What stellar performance did everyone see out of Mark Wahlberg’s portrayal of a foul-mouthed Boston cop that I hadn’t (and I LOVE him in nearly everything else)? I didn’t find the exploration (as it was) of moral confusion profound, nor did I find anything in this movie that I hadn’t seen in five seasons of the Sorpanos, three Godfather movies and half of Scorsese’s previous films (and any one Jack Nicholson film). That’s three clunkers in a row from the man I once regarded as one of the best filmmakers alive.
Borat: Cultural Learnings...(**1/2)
Somehow this two hour Comedy Central skit became the darling of film critics who piled on layers and layers of deep meaning which clearly were not there. Was it, in the words of Slate’s Wesley Morris, “Part Swiftian satire, part Buñuelian social X-ray, part de Tocqueville anthropology adventure?” No, it was a man with a fake accent telling another man his wife is ugly. Thought I found some of it was really funny (I loved the Kazakh parade where Mrs. Jew laid an egg), a lot of it was really easy (naked wrestling with a fat man, bring a hooker to a dinner party) and a good deal of it mean-spirited. And though it is disheartening to hear a Texas redneck talk about his ambition to have every homosexual in the country killed, it is hardly eye-opening and certainly not entertainment.
Hey, are you guys going to do a Best/Worst of the year list? So commonplace, I know, but I’d be interested in what you guys thought of the past year.
I completely agree with you on Borat. I did laugh at many parts, but as a movie overall, I got bored about half-way through. But I diverge on your other 2 ratings. I loved both Casino Royale and the Departed (did you noticed that CR earned something like 10 nominations from the British Academy this week?). I though the Bond flick was exciting, multi-faceted, and had interesting characters - especially Bond. I like that it was less gadgetry and tongue-in-cheek and more regular action (long chase scenes) and real drama and suspense. Could've used some better editing - it was too long in stretches. And The Departed - while I loved it, I am loving it less than before. That being said, I thought all of the actors were outstanding - but what was up with the female psychiatrist character? After having written/directed great female roles (played by Ellen Burstyn, Lorraine Bracco, among many others), Scorsese really messed up this one character. But I enjoyed the suspense and psychological games - and the trademark Scorsese directing and editing. Could've done without Jack Nicholson doing his Jack thing. Boring. Why couldn't Scorsese have cast someone like Robert Duvall...or Warren Beatty would have been an interesting choice. Yes Warren, I think you've reached the Dustin Hoffman phase of your career - go for the interesting supporting roles and chew the scenery for all its worth!
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