Keepin' it Reel: 08/01/2007

8.25.2007

The Ex

Directed by: Jesse Peretz
Starring: Zach Braff, Amanda Peet, Jason Bateman, Charles Grodin, Mia Farrow, Donal Logue, Amy Poehler
Running Time: 1h 30min

A promising comedy that could go in many directions, The Ex takes the basic comedic staple of an ex entering the life of two newlyweds, as Bateman's wheel chair bound high school cheerleading cohort of Peet ends up being a coworker to Braff, who is married to the company president's daughter. Braff already has issues with what Peet's father thinks of him, and when Bateman starts making waves in both the office and the family, Braff's jealous streak gets the best of him.

The comedic talent in this film is evident, but well wasted on the belaboured premise. It doesn't help that each and every character acts in a deplorable manner, so there really isn't anyone to care about or root for, as each is equally annoying.

Bateman does a great job of testing our sympathies for a man in a wheelchair, begging us to hate him in spite of his affliction. It's amazing how he can be sweet and sensitive (he was the heart of Arrested Development) yet turn in such a nasty, underhanded performance here.

Black comedy is probably the best way to describe this film, but it doesn't really want to leave its romantic comedy undertones, and finds itself split between a Farrelly brothers style "how low can you go" brand of humour, and a slapsticky, Meg Ryan kind of comedy. The subject matter and script stylings do not give enough for these leads to do, which is really disappointing.

Grade: C

8.19.2007

The Lookout

Directed by: Scott Frank
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode, Isla Fisher, Carla Gugino, Bruce McGill
Running Time: 1h 39min

A different take on the bank heist film, The Lookout does a great job of situating a big time action movie premise, into a realistic, small town setting. Gordon-Levitt plays a young man whose life has a dramatic set back, which he must deal with everyday of his life. When people from his past discover his predicament, they think of how they can manipulate him into doing what they want him to do.

Clever, surprising, and interestingly developed, The Lookout takes some nice twists and turns on the genre. From the complexity of the main character, and his own personal demons and conflict, to the imprint a small town can have on our present day relationships, every aspect of the script has many layers. It all subtly unfolds, with an ending that is satisfying and true to the characters we're presented with.

If there is any film I could compare it to, it reminds me of the late 90s film "A Simple Plan", which told the story of how money can corrupt and corrode relationships, causing people to act in ways they would have never imagined. Yet all presented in a small, intimate way, like an excellent novel unfolding before us, keeping us in suspense the whole while.

Grade: B

Fracture

Directed by: Gregory Hoblit
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, David Strathairn, Rosamund Pike, Embeth Davidtz, Billy Burke, Cliff Curtis
Running Time: 1h 53min

A nice chess match of a murder mystery, pitting Hopkins as an accused criminal against Gosling's young prosecutor, Fracture is sure to delight and tease your mind. Reminiscent of the exchanges that punctuated Silence of the Lambs, Hopkins delivers a cold and controlled performance, with just enough hint of madness and jealousy to keep Gosling second guessing.

Gosling, in turn, matches Hopkins step for step, both in the setting of the story, and as an up and coming actor sharing the screen with film royalty. They wear their emotions on their faces well, exhibiting each nuance of frustration, smugness, and complexity. It's such a treat to have two actors at the top of their game, that the tight script and witty dialogue is an added bonus.

Grade: B

8.15.2007

Hot Rod

Directed by: Akiva Schaffer
Starring: Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Bill Hader, Isla Fisher, Sissy Spacek, Ian McShane, Will Arnett
Running Time: 1h 28min

If you enjoyed the 80s, or enjoy laughing at the 80s, or wish they made movies like they did in the 80s, then Hot Rod is for you.

When i say, "make movies like they did in the 80s", i mean it. Hot Rod captures that feeling completely! Not in a spoofy way, either. It's as though this film was actually shot and developed in the 80s. Which is the best way to spoof anything--to realistically recreate it, and let the straightforward presentation be interpreted by the audience for the hilarious parody that it is. This is the "Airplane!" or "Top Secret" of 1980s films. Definitely not the "Date Movie", (jam as many scenes from recent movies as you can, with a fat or fart joke for good measure), type of lame duck comedy.

Right from the opening credits, you question whether you accidentally hooked up the VCR instead of the Blu-ray player, or stepped into a retro cinema, rather than an IMAX experience. i saw this one at the Drive-in, adding greater pleasure to the throwback nature of the film. The cheesy soundtrack seems like Footloose 2, and when you see him take a run out into the forest, shadow boxing himself, you can just smell the Kevin Bacon in the air.

Even though all the eightyosity makes for an amusing film experience, let's face it. Those cheesy 80s teen movies weren't all that great, which means spoofing them straight up makes for a silly, yet still kind of lame movie. Hot Rod's plot, centered around a boy who wants to do an amazing stunt to raise money so that he can save his step dad's life just so he can kick his ass, Mano e Mano, is a goofy as it gets. So as the film unfolds with all the slapstick missed stunts and TV after school special crying fits of the actors, it's funny, but in a bad way.

Still, you have to admire the lovingly way these guys approach this film. They must really have immersed themselves in plenty of synthesized soundtracks and anti-climatic teen dramas to make such a faithfully reconstructed parody. Definitely not for everyone, but those in on the joke, with think this is "cool beans".

Grade: C+