The Prestige

Swiftly jumping onto my top ten list for 2006 is Christopher Nolan's fascinating, and entertaining movie The Prestige.

The film is a multi-layered tale, which examines the destructive nature of man's inner demons.

It features some of the finest writing, and performances in the past year.

The story is a period piece about two ambitious up and coming magicians, played outstandingly by Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, who after a tragic accident become fierce rivals, and eventually bitter enemies.

Jonathan and Christopher Nolan created a script that is impressive because the film's themes creep up on the viewer much like a magic trick.

The movie seems to play out like it's a mystery, or con game when in reality.....it's really not.

It's a character study.

A fascinating, complex study of man's dark side.

To be honest, the actual twist or mystery, in the film is not really that hard to figure out. When it is eventually revealed, it actually becomes an after thought to the real through-line of the film.

The twist is an illusion of what we think is the real story. Which is ironic because the film is about magicians.

It's a interesting, and enjoyable way to frame a story about deception, ambition, obsession and the lengths people will go for revenge.

At several points in the film the movie manipulates who we root for. We switch back and forth between the characters trying to decide who the protagonist is.

Which, in the end has us questioning whether the two characters are different at all.

Along with the excellent script, the film is also backed up with fantastic performances.

In addition to the aforementioned lead performers, the supporting actors Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Andy Serkis and a haunting, elegant David Bowie all shine in complex multi-dimensional performances.

It is sophisticated material that really can't fully be appreciated until some time afterwards.

When the film actually ended, I briefly contemplated whether I even liked it.

The journey 0f the film is so thought provoking, and demanding that the film requires a moment of consideration to fully absorb the story.

So after some thought, and analysis I realized that it's haunting, and powerful themes stayed with me like no other movie this year.

The film is mystifying, haunting, and strangely provoking .

It almost demands a second viewing.

In retrospect, I believe much of the film can't really be fully appreciated until it's watched again. Which I look forward to soon.

It's complex, intelligent, and satisfying like no other commercial movie so far this year.

Easily one of the finest films this year, and confirms to me, what I've suspected after watching Batman Begins, that Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale are the next great cinematic duo, much like DiCaprio and Scorsese, or Spielberg and Hanks.

It's exciting, inspiring stuff, and I can't wait to watch their future collaborations.

Borat: Cultural learnings of America......

The funniest movie.......ever?

A great case can be made.

I don't think there's a way to describe the giddy laughter, and joy I experienced while watching this film.

To be honest it's been a long time since I felt and shared that kind of experience in a movie theatre. I have to think way back to the time I first saw the movie Airplane with a full house. I was pretty young at the time, but the laughter and joy I remember the audience experiencing had a profound, almost traumatic affect on me.

It was laughter that hurt. Rolling laughter that had people gasping for air.

Literally people were in pain from laughing so much.

Walking away from the theatre, I remember people wiping their eyes from the tears of laughter.

To be honest I never thought I'd experience that again.

Until now.

Borat: The Cultural learnings of America for make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan will probably go down as one of the five funniest movies...... of all time.

I feel silly writing a synopsis of the film. The concept of the film is pretty simple.

Borat, a wildly racist, crude, and simple minded reporter from a fictional backwards Kazakhstan is making a documentary about people he encounters...along the way he becomes obsessed with Pamela Anderson.

That's it.

It's amazing how many laughs he's able to illicit with such a simple premise.

I laughed.....hard about every 30 seconds during the film.

Literally.

I wasn't the only one.

At one point during my screening people started to applaud wildly when a hilarious scene concluded, I even saw some people standing up.

For a movie.

We're talking flashing lights here.

A standing ovation for a projected image.

From the moment that the credits started rolling the laughter began. There was never a moment that I felt the audience felt bored or distracted, we were all glued to the screen.

I'm pretty sure that if a fire started in the theatre nobody would have noticed.

No joke.

Besides the genius of Cohen, I think a lot of credit has to go to Larry Charles for his fine direction.

Rather than trying to re-invent the wheel, Charles sticks closely to the format that worked so well on Da Ali G Show.

Borat interacts with unsuspecting subjects who unknowingly share their dark sides in the presence of a seemingly naive Borat.

People think they are informing, and educating the simple minded Borat. When in reality he's uncovering all of American society's dirty laundry.

It's subversive, profound, thought provoking, and just plain funny stuff.

But that's not where all the laughs are, one surprise about the film is how much scripted material is in the film.

I think about 70% of the film is scripted.

The stuff in fictional Kazakhstan is some of the funniest parts in the film. There's also plenty of humorous bits involving Borat and his producer Azmat brilliantly played by Ken Davitian.
They come off as a sort of twisted, racist, crude Laurel and Hardy.

Since Cohen is more of a comedian than an actor one would think this would be one of the weaker elements of the film. But under Larry Charles, who has some experience dealing with this type of free form lightly structured improv material from working on Curb your Enthusiasm, it becomes one of the strongest elements of the film.

Indeed one of the funniest, and raunchiest bits come from the staged material. I won't ruin it here with a description. But trust me, people will know what scene I'm referring to when they watch the film.

It's shocking, crude, perverse stuff. It's also material that'll be talked about for years.

Make sure to check it out before the buzz becomes unavoidable.

Ironically, some genius at Fox, using some stupid fuzzy mathematics, and survey response forms, decided to scale back the number of theatres showing the film. Imagine how they feel now that despite the limited screenings the film still opened at Number one. Imagine how many people were turned away this weekend. I almost missed out when I was initially turned away at one theatre. Luckily I was persistent and found it playing somewhere else.

It shouldn't have been that hard though. I'm know some people who weren't as persistent.

THAT guy is going to get fired.

Anyways by next week the rest of the world will get to see it. Borat will probably be a household name.

Which brings about a depressing note. With so much exposure it'll be impossible for Cohen to play the character again.

At least he's going out with a bang.

A glorious, fun filled, hilarious bang.

Windy City Heat

Available now on DVD is probably one of the funniest movies of the decade.

Windy City Heat is an elaborate practical joke played on Perry Caravelo by his two "friends", Don Barris and Tony Barbieri.

The set up of the film is that Perry Caravelo believes that his chance of a lifetime has arrived by landing the part of Stone Fury in the huge, action film Windy City Heat. He lives out his fantasy with the bonus of cameras rolling at all times to document the suppossed behind the scenes events for the spectacular DVD.

In reality, the filming is just an opportunity to witness his two friends humiliate, ridicule, and embarrass Perry Caravelo at every turn.

I know it sounds mean.

That's because it is.

But after watching Perry in his element for a few minutes, one figures out pretty quickly that this guy deserves all that's coming to him.

He's homophobic, rude, crude, ignorant, and extremely, extremely arrogant.

At one point he remarks, with all sincerity, that he's the new Marlon Brando.

Seriously.

Without spoiling the humor, some of the bits include, a hilarious audition situation, stunt work involving shit, a red baseball bat, mistaken costume fittings, toilet humor (literally), and an accident involving a craft services table.

The only slight problem with the movie is that it's pretty unbelievable that Perry is so ignorant.

Seriously the guy has to be retarded to fall for some of the set-ups.

For example Bobcat Goldthwait is directing this supposed action film.

But somehow it's believable because the guy is such a ignorant, and terrible, yet arrogant actor.

The audience ends up hoping for all it's worth that it is real, and that he isn't in on the joke.

Just to see him suffer.

Which brings up a point that if Perry is in on the joke, Perry Caravelo is a comic genius.

In the mold of Andy Kaufman, and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Which is a scenario which is even harder to believe.

In any case, I highly, highly recommend watching this film.

There are some huge, tears inducing, stomach hurting laughs, that will have one giggling for weeks after just thinking about it.

The Departed

Not much more can be said about how great this movie is.

Which is why I held off on writing my review.

Honestly, what's left to be said?

Besides that, the truth is in my heart, I believe Mr. Scorsese is not capable of making a bad movie.

Even if he tried.

Seriously.

Even his stuff that people considered uneven.....I think is pretty freakin' brilliant.

I thought Gangs of New York and The Aviator were epic.

I liked Age of Innocence, Kundun, Color of Money....even Bringing out the Dead.

Well...... maybe not Bringing out the Dead.

But I recognize that movie is still better than 95% of the stuff that is out there today.

So, as one can see, in my eyes the guy can do no wrong.

I guess I'm not in the minority in my beliefs. Any dumb ass off the street will admit that the guy is a genius.

Which is why it's so strange that he's been unable to win the film industry's most prestigious award.

I think if there's any complaints about his most recent work, it's that they all seemed like they were geared toward trying to win him the Oscar.

Which of course isn't true.

But the way his films were marketed definitely made it seem that way.

So it's refreshing that The Departed at least looks like something more closer to his indie sensibility.

It feels like a movie with no obvious award season ambition.

It feels like Scorsese..... having some fun.

Like he did in Goodfellas, and Casino.

Indeed, the story is not even an original idea. It's based on a rather exceptional chinese film called Infernal Affairs.

I read in an article that one of the reasons Scorsese made the movie was to give back to the chinese film community, which has been so influenced by Scorsese's work.

The Departed is a superior film....but in all honestly not by much.

Andy Lau's movie is stylistic fun, and Andy Lau and Tony Leung's performances are pretty amazing.

Stunning work really.

Especially when watched with a fresh perspective.

Which is a big weakness for the remake.

The film is a faithful interpretation of Infernal Affairs.... almost to a fault.

Many of the plot points are ripped straight from the original.

To the point that I think that, if given a choice, viewers should not watch the original before watching this film.

It will spoil all the fun.

But even if one has seen the original, this movie is still a pretty fun and amazing ride.

Perhaps not surprising, I felt the differences in the two films were what I enjoyed most.

This time around I felt the stand out performances in the film were by the supporting actors.

In particular Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg, who happen to be characters who aren't in the original.

The truth is that they steal this film from Leo and Damon.

Like bandits.

Mark Wahlberg in particular has never been better.

Also getting notable attention is Vera Farmiga, who's character is tweaked so that she's romantically involved with both Leo and Damon's character. It's a nice tweak in the story, and gives the movie even more depth and heart.

Let's not forget Jack...who's great in his role. It's a wild, almost, out of control performance but it's entertaining, enjoyable and pretty damn great.

Perhaps turning in the most intimidating performance of them all is Ray Winstone's Mr. French. Who's a cold blooded, loyal, calculated killer, and second in command to Nicholson's Frank Costello. It fantastic, understated, work that hopefully won't be forgotten come awards season.

So basically it's a great film.... good source material, great adaptation, good performances, great direction, it's a can't miss.....maybe it's the best movie of the year.

What more needs to be said?

A son of many talents!

American Idol watch out.

My wife took some pictures of our little cub the other day, and I was scanning through them on the computer, catching up with his exploits that I miss while I am at work, and to my surprise, I noticed that she captured him displaying some unusual supernatural abilities.....especially for his age.

He's only 7 months, but he's obviously a musical genius.

If one needs proof.......take a look at these pictures.



Yeah, that's right he sings......but unfortunately when I'm not around.

I coyly pressed my wife for some details, but she refused to report any unusual abilities. Perhaps she's afraid that his talents may draw the attention of Julliard who may force her to enroll him in a preschool program to hone his obvious vocal talents so that he may share them with the world.

When I told her it was okay....that I wouldn't share the secret with anyone. She merely looked at me like I was insane....which unfortunately is a look she gives me a lot.

Just when I was ready to give in, and admit that..... maybe..... she may have just caught a moment of unusual coincidence.... I saw this next picture.



Check out that finger placement.

I saw Anchorman.

We all did.

It's obvious what he's doing here.

He's obviously playing the jazz flute.

I'm now in the process of examining ALL his pictures, which is considerable,.....to maybe catch other remarkable moments that my wife is afraid to share with me.

Imagine....here I was thinking that I was just missing diaper changes, and mid-day naps while I'm at work.

When it's obvious there's a prodigy in my midst.

I Pod Madness

I've been busy the last couple of days adding music to my family's new I pod.

I find it to be a strange.... almost...... addictive task.

I've never owned an mp3 player. To be honest I don't really listen to that much music. I don't listen to it often in the car because I'm usually listening to sports radio. The only time I do listen to music stations is because I get bored during comercial breaks, and I start skimming through the fm stations.

It's not that I don't like music....I do. But I hardly ever listen to it. Most of the time when I hear a song I like it's usually because I'm watching a movie or t.v. show and they are using a song during the scene.

On the rare occasion I have music playing, say at home, I have it in the background on my computer as I surf the web. But I rarely do that because it interferes with the video content I'm usually checking out.

But for the last couple of days I've been cramming all kinds of content onto this damn I pod thing.

For what I don't know.

Unlike the commercials on t.v., I don't stroll down the street bouncing to the latest jams. My job requires customer service, so I can't wear it at work, and as far as wearing it at home my wife hates it, because I can't hear her calling me when she needs my help with the little cub.

So it's practically unneccessary.

But it's a freaking fasciniating gadget.

First off the thing can hold a ton of stuff.

7,500 songs.

Seriously.

Don't ask me what I would need 7,500 songs for, but I'm trying my hardest to find out.

I'm going to try and fill it up......just to see if I can.

I've downloaded stuff onto it that I haven't listened to in years.

Like old Run Dmc and Boogie Down Productions songs.

Seriously.

I assume for the day when I get that strange urge to indulge in classic old...... I'm talking OLD school rap.

I've started the strange habit of asking everyone I know about their cd collection, so that I might borrow a cd which interests me so that I can add it to my I pod.

I've even raided my wife's musical theatre cd's. In case someone in the family gets the urge to listen to some Sondheim on the I Pod.

Yeah...seriously.

I've got about maybe 1, 800 songs on there right now.

Insane....in the palm of my hand.

If that's not enough, this particular I pod is able to play video content.

That's pretty crazy.

I remember how when I was a kid, I dreamed that someone would come up with an invention which would allow me to watch tv in the car.

To save me from the boredom of long road trips, and those boring quick drives with my mom as she ran errands.

Now it's possible to play video in the palm of my hand......as I wait in line at the grocery store.

Not because I'm bored.....but simply because I can.

Crazy.

I even downloaded a couple of movies from the I tunes store just to check out the video functions on the gadget.

So now I have Pirates of the Caribbean and Tombstone on this thing......even though I can't imagine sitting in one place watching a whole 3 hour movie on this thing.

Then my co-worker informed me that I can actually rip content from dvd's, and add it to the I pod.

So now I have the First season of Da Ali G show, and 6 episodes of the U.S. version of the Office on this thing.

In case I need a quick laugh....I guess.

The frustrating thing is the gadget isn't even halfway full yet.

I've been adding stuff for several days now, and I haven't even put a dent into the thing's memory. It's almost becoming a burden trying to fill the thing up.

What's ironic is that I'm finding it difficult to actually find time to use the thing.

The device has tons of content, and I'm working my ass off trying to fill it up, and all it does is sit on top of my computer.

Classic.

I don't know what to do with it.

I'm trying to find occasion to use it, but it's rarely come up. A couple of days ago I offered to drive my wife to the store....which shocked her.....until she realized that my intention was just to sit in the car, and watch my I pod as she shopped.

The other day I caught myself laying on my couch........in front of my 46 inch big screen......watching an episode of the Ali G show...... on my tiny I Pod.

Don't ask me why.

I'm obviously insane.

It's bizarre......such an amazing device.......and I can't find an occasion, or excuse to use it.

I just wish I had the thing when I was younger.

I would've worn the thing out.

I would have used it during those bus trips to the beach. On those long walks to the comic book store. In line for the latest blockbuster film. Waiting for my mom to pick me up from school.

Maybe that's why I've worked so hard to add content to this thing, because of those horrible memories of boredom, and frustration when I had nothing to entertain me.

I'm sure it'll eventually come in handy one of these days.

One day I'll be so happy to own this device, and I'll be relieved and grateful that I was able to put plenty of content on the thing to entertain me for hours.

But for now it sits.....sits and waits.

Please no small talk............please.....ever......

I hate small talk.

I don't see the point for it. To me it's just a waste of energy.

I know there's plenty of people out there who think that it's rude not to practice it.

I know because..... when I don't indulge in it. Those people look at me angry.

I'm sorry..... but I don't like to talk about the weather, or how I'm feeling a particular day, or where I purchased a particular shirt..... because frankly I know that people could care less.

The reality is that people use small talk to hide their insecurities.

That's one of the ways I know I'm going to get along with a new acquaintance. If they are able to be in my presence.....in silence.

I know that may not sound like much. But I'm the type of person that can go awhile without talking.

I can go hours. Seriously a whole afternoon. For me the longer..... the better.

I like being quiet in my thoughts. I like thinking about my family, or a certain movie, or what the Angels chances are for the game that night, or what I'm going to write about on my next blog post.

I don't feel the need to vocally express all my thoughts, or to engage people in talk to feel alive. Sometimes, I just don't want to share what's going on in my head, and I don't want to know what's going on in other people's head.

That's one of the best things about being around my close friends, they know that I'm not being rude when I'm quiet.

I just have nothing to say at the time.

When I eventually speak, it's because I truly have a question or a remark to make.

Like it should be.

I think my disdain for small talk is because I've been around it for so long.

I was a bank teller for 7 years.

That's all customers do at the bank.....have small talk.

I used to laugh to myself when I'd see customers get flustered in my presence while I worked in silence.....counting their money.

They'd smile....try to make eye contact....talk about the lines in the bank, about the silly weather. Some stupid piece of news or trivia they heard on the radio.

And I'd just keep counting, and staring at my computer screen.

A couple of times they complained to my manager, and say I was not friendly enough during the transaction.

But my manager knew better.

Just an insecure customer who needed small talk.

To put things in perspective, one day I was working and a customer came up to my window and I took her deposit slip and asked how she was doing that day?

Big mistake.

She proceeded to tell me that one of her relatives were killed in a murder suicide, and her brother was just diagnosed with cancer.

No joke.

She was serious. She obviously needed to talk, and I was the focus of her venting.

Of course my immediate reaction to the situation after she left my window was...."Wow, that was inappropriate."

But was it really?

I mean, I did ask her how she was doing that day....I opened that door, and she probably felt she could just come right into my world and take a dump....in my living space.

In retrospect, I sort of admire her for her boldness.

I mean that really wasn't small talk. Not even close.

I work in a video store now, so I get my fair share of small talk.

People ask me all the time about a certain movie.....about a certain actor. What the big sellers are or new releases are coming up.

Sometimes I'll indulge them if it's interesting.

But the reality is 95% of the time it's not.

So I've sort of mastered a way to get around the small talk.

I mumble.

Mumbling is good, because it puts all the pressure on them to try and understand what I just said.

Most of the time during small talk, people don't really care, they'll smile and pretend they understood you, and walk away.

Which is exactly what I want.

But sometimes I'll get that person that just won't give up. Who really tries to get under my skin by forcing they're insecurities on me. So then I'll resort to plan B where I'll start to say something clearly then I'll trail off in an incoherent mumble jumble.

Something like...."Yeah, I saw that...I don't know if..(cough)....I guess..(chuckle)....yea....(deep breath)....you might...(look around distracted)....maybe...(sigh)....at least...I was hoping..(chuckle or sigh) ..mumble...mumble...etc...etc..."

Seriously answer any small talk question with that response, and the conversation ends.

Usually before I could even finish, the small talker will smile and look away. They are just content with the minor human contact they've made.

Lately I've noticed a new trend where people will avoid small talk entirely, by having a conversation with someone elseo on a cell phone, while interacting with me.

My favorite way to conduct a transaction.

I know some of my co-workers hate that.

But I love it.

I'm there to do a job. Get them what they want, and then get them on their way to where they have to be. If it can be done with little or no verbal interaction.

Great.

It just makes things go more efficiently.

Actually, I wish everything would work that way. Just pointing and hand gestures. It would eliminate stupid small talk.

I realllllly hate small talk in lines....like in the supermarket. The stupidest conversations ever, happen while one is in a line at the market.

People will talk about what they are buying, or how much money they are saving, some stupid bargain, or the lines....again the lines.

Like it's so hard to understand why OTHER people want what we also want at the SAME TIME.

Man, when I'm trapped in one of those conversations I just want to rip my ears off.

I just feel like turning to them, and say......please let's just stand here in silence, and leave each other alone.

My wife has a big problem with small talkers. They are drawn to her like mosquitoes to light.

She has a bright personality, she's cute, she's very friendly, and she speaks loud and clearly.

She might as well advertise for small talk.

I've been caught up in some epic small talking conversations with other people while in her company.

Unbelievably stupid, and insignificant conversations.

People just love to talk to her about the stupidest, silly, unimportant things in the world with her.

And usually after the conversation is done, she turns to me and says....How did I get caught up in that?

She hasn't learned to mumble yet...that and she's too nice. She actually listens to these people.

What's especially hilarious is when we have a small talk conversation with someone, and then we leave them, but are forced to interact with them AGAIN, when we see them in a different aisle or in the parking lot.

What usually ends up happening is silly...incoherent....insignificant.....banter.

Like...We can't stop running into each other..... or....funny seeing you again......or haven't we met before....

When in reality we wish we would never see each other again.

Classic small talk.

It's like the stuff that Ned Flanders says to Homer Simpson in their driveways....Howdy neighbor....that sort of thing.

Just chirping noise. Might as well be dogs barking at each other.

I guess people can argue that small talk can lead to significant conversations.

Why does it have to be that way?

Why can't we just blurt out what we want to say? Why do we have to work our way up to significant stuff?

To me it's just a waste of time and energy.

Frustrating.

I guess I just have to keep working on my mumbling skills.

Either that or pretend to be deaf.

Hey.....now that's an idea.

The crazy time of the year.......

This is the time of the year when I become crazy.

Seriously...... mentally ill.

My two regular readers will notice that I haven't been posting much lately.

It's because I don't care.

This is the time of the year when my focus becomes entirely consumed by Angels baseball.

Entirely.

When I wake up in the morning, it's all I think about. I go over the day's pitcher, I'll look over the standings, and match up, and research how the team they are playing is pitching. This year I'm also looking at the match-ups of the team that the Angels are chasing....which this year happens to be the Oakland Athletics.

I live and die Angels baseball.

I even think of a configuration of clothing that will give the Angels good luck.

Seriously.

I choose a lucky shirt to wear....maybe an Angels themed shirt, or I'll dig around my shelves for my lucky underwear, maybe wear my lucky wristband.

All of this is designed to bring positive karma to the world to provide the Angels the best opportunity to win that day's game.

I know it sounds crazy.

That's because it is.

I realize this is a strange pattern of neuroses. I guess I'm slightly comforted by the fact that I recognize that it's crazy behavior.

But I don't care.

I'll do anything.

I'll tie my shoes a specific way if I think it'll help......shave a certain way. Drive a certain way to work.

When I watch a game I'll sit in a certain position. If they start to win....I won't move from that position.

If I'm holding something a certain way, I'll keep holding it that way.

I know that sounds insane.

But I don't care.

One of the many reasons why I love my wife is because she understands.

Unfortunately....I think my mental illness has spread to her. She now does things to aid my strange neuroses, even encourages me to act that way.

She won't watch if they start to win. Or she won't come into the room I'm watching the game in if they are doing well. She won't distract me, or contribute any negative karma that may hurt the Angels chances.

She'll even ask me if today is okay to wash my lucky shorts that I watch the game with, and sleep in.

Insane.

Sometimes we go days where the only thing we talk about is our son, and Angels Baseball.

If a game is on that night. We're not going out. No eating out, no movies, no visiting friends, no paying bills, no leaving the vicinity of the television.

I'm incapable of doing anything productive around the house....until a commercial break.

I believe the movie Fever Pitch has a line where the main character.....who also suffers from baseball pennant insanity says that "It's good for the soul to invest in something that one can't control."

I guess.

But it's still insane.

I realize that.

I guess people justify this type of behavior by saying that it's all for fun.

Which it is.

But a part of me hates feeling this way, sometimes it doesn't feel fun. Especially when they lose.

Sometimes I'll stun myself with my insanity. I'll see myself acting a certain way and think....

"Boy...I've really lost it" or I'll cheer loudly, or jump in the air, like I've accomplished something incredible...when in reality, I'm just witnessing something fun.

I guess I'm just an Angels baseball nut.

Insane.

What's even more insane is that no matter how they do. If they win it all, or lose, the moment when the Angels season is over.......... I start thinking about the next year.

For more insanity.

There's only one thing that distracts me nowadays from Angels baseball.

It's my son.

I'll look at him, and realize that when the Angels lose, it's not really that big of a deal.

I'll see him smile, and hear him laugh, and realize it's all just a game, meant for amusement and entertainment.

It's what I do to comfort my depression when the Angels lose.

I walk into my bedroom, and look at my son, I look at him and smile, and realize how lucky I am to have a beautiful son in my wife's arms or asleep in his crib......

In his Angels baseball outfit.

Insane.

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Will Ferrell is the funniest actor working today.

Period.

He even made me laugh in that horrible bomb Bewitched.

So it wasn't a question of whether or not I'd eventually watch this movie......only when.

The truth is that I usually wait for DVD to catch his films.

Not because I don't feel he's worthy of my movie money, but because I'm lazy and cheap, so when I go to the movie theatre it's usually for an event film, or a big action blockbuster.

I usually don't catch silly comedies on the big screen.

But because this film was made by the same writer and producer who made the hilarious Anchorman: The legend of Ron Burgandy I made the exception, and headed out to the movies to catch this flick. More specifically, the Drive-In theatre.

That's right the Drive-In theatre.

It's the first movie that I was able to watch with my wife, and baby cub in attendance.

And I wasn't disappointed.

Talladega Nights tells the tale of one Ricky Bobby. A boy who grew up always wanting to go fast. So what better profession to pursue then becoming a professional Nascar driver. With the help of his teammate Cal Naughton Jr (John C. Reily), he quickly reaches the top of the circuit. But trouble arrives when a mysterious rival Jean Girrard (Sascha Baron Cohen) threatens his supremacy on the Nascar tour.

First off, the movie is pretty freaking hilarious. There are genuine laugh out loud moments, spread throughout the film, and the cast, which includes Michael Clarke Duncan, Gary Cole and Jane Lynch are all affable, charming and enjoyable to watch. There's no doubt that they all probably had as much fun making the movie, then it is for the viewer to watch.

In the typical Judd Apatow style, the film doesn't take itself seriously at all. It's not afraid to turn absurd, and inappropriate at the drop of the hat.

But, I have to admit the movie was different than what I expected it to be.

For one, this is no small budget comedy. There are some huge set pieces, and action sequences in the film.

I'm talking big, expensive crashes, and expertly choreographed action.

Seriously, some of the scenes would give Tony Scott's movie Days of Thunder a run for the money as far as action.

Which I'm not sure was really necessary.

When I'm usually watching a comedy like this I don't really need too much action. Personally I like small, silly, off the wall type stuff.

When I think of a big budget action-comedy. I think of Bad Boys.

Not a good thing.

I almost think it's to a comedic film's advantage to have less money and resources, because it forces the artists to use creativity, talent, and wit to compensate.

I think a lot of the problem with Adam Sandler films nowadays is that he is depending way too much on special effects and big action sequences.

That's not what we go to an Adam Sandler, or for that matter a Will Ferrell film for.

That being said the movie is still pretty funny. I'm going to say not as funny as Anchorman.

But almost.

A particular treat is seeing John C. Reily in pure silly mode. It's always interesting to watch his work. He's a fascinating actor who constantly makes interesting choices, and to see him working with a comedian like Ferrell is just comic heaven.

Also getting plenty of laughs is Sascha Baron Cohen's strange homosexual character Jean Girrard. It's a scene stealing performance that almost has me wishing he'd get a film of his own.

I can't WAIT for his next movie Borat.

Some comic highlights include Ricky Bobby running around the race track in his underwear, Ricky Bobby learning to conquer his fear by driving with a cougar, and John C. Reily and Michael Clarke Duncan trying to remove a knife that was plunged into Ricky Bobby's leg.....by Ricky Bobby.

The movie is not perfect though....obviously.

Besides the unnecessary action. A lot of the great laughs in the film were seen in the trailer. The movie also features a little too much story for my taste.

I know that's a little odd to hear. But when I watch movies like this I don't really care about story arcs, and character development.

I want situational comedy.

I want Ron Burgandy in a Gladiator fight.

But, like I said earlier the movie is still pretty funny. I don't want to give the impression that I didn't enjoy myself.

Actually I'm still giggling thinking about moments in the film. Which makes me think the movie will get better with repeat viewing.

Also before I forget, I have to remind the viewer to stick around for the end credits, which feature bloopers and deleted scenes.

It's easily the funniest stuff in the movie.....maybe even the funniest material of the year.

Clerks 2

I'm a Kevin Smith fan.

I own all his movies on DVD.....except for Jersey Girl. Which gets a bad rap for being worse than it really is....maybe.

I'm sure I'm not in the minority when I say that the first Clerks movie had a profound effect on me both personally, and in my opinion about the possibilities of film as an art form.

Here was a movie that didn't look or sound like the typical Hollywood film of the day, and it was made by a man who truly represented the independent spirit.

A film school drop out, average joe, with limited resources, no studio contacts, and using a no name cast, who utilized his one strong skill as a comedic writer in order to make his dream project by maxing out his credit cards.

The general consensus was that the movie featured brilliant, outstanding dialogue, which overshadowed the thin story, mediocre to poor performances, and admittedly undisciplined, unpolished direction.

But what it had going for it was that there was a palpable energy, affection, and desperation in the film that reflected the passions of the director.

Something all of us undiscovered artists shared in our own lives and ambitions.

When the film became a huge hit, suddenly all the artistic aspirations of the working class became tantalizingly reachable.

Which was obviously just an illusion. But fun to daydream about anyways.

Simply put, the making and the success of the film was the underdog story of the decade.

Six movies, a failed animated T.V. show, countless appearances, numerous writing and acting gigs later Kevin Smith returns to where it all began.

Or has he ever left?

The truth is, for the exception of Jersey Girl, all his following movies have been sort of sequels to the first film. The movies, affectionately called the Jersey chronicles, feature the characters of Jay and Silent Bob, that live in the same world as the Clerks themselves, Dante and Randal.

This time around Dante and Randal take center stage.... again.

When the film begins we see that seemingly not much has changed in their world. Dante dutifully reports to work at the Quick Stop only to find that an accident by Randal has caused the beloved/cursed stores to burn to the ground. With no options they are forced to take jobs at the fast food joint Mooby burgers.

Jump forward and Dante is engaged to be married and this is his last day at work, before he leaves Jersey and moves to Florida, to live the first day of the rest of his life.

But can he easily move knowing that he'll leave behind his best friend, a potential soul mate in Becky, played by Rosario Dawson, and the city, and the View Askew universe that the audience has grown to love?

Before I begin my actual review of the film, I'd like to point out that during the first 15 minutes of the film, I had the unfortunate opportunity to sit right next to someone who had obviously seen the film....many times.

In fact he had actually memorized long speeches from the film, and was reciting them along with, sometimes seconds before the actual scene would appear on film

After several of my fellow patrons had threatened bodily harm to him, he stopped.....finally.

But one can imagine this left a sour taste in my mouth for the rest of the film, when several times during the 15 minutes I was tempted to either move seats, get up and report the idiot, or even contemplated smacking the idiot in the brain with my fists, forearm and knees.

Indeed if he was not accompanied by a lady friend I most certainly would have, and I might not be here writing this post, but instead in a jail cell considering a different kind of blog post about the dangers of losing one's temper.

In any case,I admit there's a possibility that my review might be slightly tainted. However I firmly believe I don't feel it has affected my disposition to the point of not writing a fair and accurate review of the film.

In any case here it goes.

The film for me was a case of two extremes.

I hated it, and liked it.

Specifically I hated the first half of the film, and enjoyed the second half of the film...almost to the point where I might recommend it.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The first act of the film which includes the exposition, and the introduction of new characters didn't work for me.... at all.

In fact throughout several points in the beginning I contemplated walking out of the film.

Seriously.

Not for the same reason that Joel Siegel did however, and not because of the ignorant jerk next to me.

But because I did not care or feel for any of the characters involved....at all.

While watching the first 30 minutes I kept considering how in the press after Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back, Kevin Smith had remarked how he out grew the characters in the View Askew universe. That he felt it was time for him to move on from the characters and explore new territory.

The characters of Dante and Randal, to me in the beginning, just seemed like bitter, unpleasant, immature people that I had no interest in getting to know all over again.

Which may have been some of the point.

Except that none of the comedy seemed to work for me in the beginning. The interesting, humorous mean spirited banter of the original film, had turned annoying, uninspired, boring, and tired.

When Randal torments a strange annoying co-worker named Elias, it seems desperate and excessive, a plea for laughs.

Something that was below everyone involved.

Why feel the need to comically point out what is abundantly clear.?

The guy is weird. Unrealistically character actor weird. We get it.

Rather than just let the character exist. Kevin Smith's writing feels the need for Randal to comment and remark on those peculiar traits over and over and over again....just in case we missed it.

The same can be said about the character of Emma Bunting.

Awkwardly played by Smith's real life wife Jennifer.

Along with excessive writing pointing out her weird traits, Emma Bunting's character has the unfortunate circumstance of not given good dialogue to work with as well as a weak performance. Couple that with the idea that a lady like her would even be interested in someone like Dante, and it's a mess waiting to happen.

Although his films are not renown for their acting prowess Mrs. Smith's performance is unusually stilted. Which is unfortunate since I found her enjoyable in Jay and Silent Bob and humorous in her bit part in Jersey Girl.

To be fair, looking over her IMDB page, unless she has theatre training I'm unaware of, it's obvious that she is just starting out in the business.

It's possible that the idea of playing love interest, and performing a make out scene while his husband the director was watching, proved to be too awkward for her. In any case it's obvious she is not comfortable here, and is hard to watch without being pulled out of the movie's story.

There are however some comic highlights in the first half that I won't reveal, not surprisingly involving Jay and Silent Bob.

But for me the laughs were very few and far between.

The banter and observations in this film seemed to lack the timely and cultural relevance that the first film did.

It just felt forced.

It had me questioning whether all the material with these two characters had been exhasted in the first film, the animated series, and the cameos in the other films.

When things start to turn around for the film is with the arrival of Becky played by Rosario Dawson. Although she too suffers with awkward exposition, and unnecessary scenes of character revealing quirks, at least her character has an energy and a personality that is affable.

Although it's even harder for us still to imagine her character would feel romantically for Dante.

No matter how much they try to tone down her appearance.

Strangely enough it's when the comic hi-jinks start to mellow down, that the film starts to begin to work.

After an effective encounter with a high school nemesis, played by Jason Lee. We start to get into the real heart of the movie.

How the friendships that we keep help sustain us through the mediocrities of life.

The second half plays with a sensibility which is perhaps closer to where Kevin Smith's head is at nowadays.

More mature, heartfelt, and sincere.

The second half of this film is what Jersey Girl wanted to be.

Sure some of the situations are formulaic. But much like the first film, there is an energy and spirit in the second half of this movie which reflects and represents the director's life view.

I'm sure Kevin Smith is well aware how lucky he has been in life.

Whereas the first film reflected the anger, frustration and absurdity, which he felt at that period in his life. The second half of this movie reflects his ideas of taking life more slowly, observing the positives in one's life, and the joys possible when listening to one's own heart when making life choices.

The second half of the film is also a lot more fun. The humor also hits it's stride in the second half, it's a nice blend of heartfelt sincerity, and absurd comedic over-the-top-shocking humor.

It's an interesting contrast.

It's almost as if he wrote the first half of the movie to please his hardcore fan-boys, and the second half to please general moviegoers.

It's quite dramatic to witness actually, two drastically different tones, and sensibilities in the same film.

In retrospect, I guess, when considering the two halves of this film one can argue that the film represents a synopsis of Kevin Smith's own life. An angry, bitter, frustrated, confused, first half, followed by a mature, grateful, life affirming, second half. Was this done on purpose? I don't doubt it. He is a talented writer.

But is it a good film?

Although it's obviously subjective, there was a significant portion in my audience who enjoyed the first half of the film, as well as the second. There were also however several walk outs in my screening, and as I stated earlier a temptation by myself to follow suit.

Although I enjoyed the second half of the film, the reality is I could not reconcile my dislike for the first half.

The writing, acting and story just seemed awkward, tedious, and uninspired. Although the film redeems itself in the second half, it's too much to overcome....at least for me.

A telling question which I posed to myself was whether I felt the film was up to the standards of the first 5 films in the View Askew universe.

The answer is no.

But perhaps most telling is that I don't intend to add it to my DVD collection.

I do hope to catch the movie again perhaps on Cable or maybe on DVD.... as a rental, just to see it with a clearer head without the annoying mimicking parrot movie patron in my ear.

But I don't think it'll change my perception. The reality is I just think that it's now become abundantly obvious that Kevin Smith has moved on from this type of material, and he doesn't seem to have the same passion and enthusiasim for the View Askew universe like he once did.

He is ready for a new chapter in his artistic life.

I look forward to seeing it.

Inside Man

While watching Spike Lee's Inside Man, the first thing one notices is the definite change of tone of the film compared to his previous work.

The movie just feels lighter.

Which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Spike is undoubtedly a very talented director, who has always had strong political statements weaved into his films. He's a director who often provokes his audiences.... to the point of feeling uncomfortable, and often times angry.

But I often wondered to myself, what kind of movie would Spike Lee make if he was just having fun.....in a sense a commercial film designed to entertain and please the most people possible.

The answer is the enjoyable, and amusing Inside Man.

On a seemingly normal day, several bank robbers take over an exclusive corporate bank. The ring leader is the charismatic and intelligent Dalton Russell, played by Clive Owen. The detectives in charge of the case played by Denzel Washington and Chiwetel Ejifor, arrive on the scene and shortly discover that this is no ordinary bank take over. When a mysterious bank official played by Jodie Foster arrives, things take an even more complicated turn. Can the detectives avoid the seemingly inevitable bloody conclusion, like most bank robberies, or can they uncover the real motives for this unusual bank take-over?

What makes this movie refreshing is the unusual twists and turns the film takes with the genre.

It's obvious that the writer Russel Gerwitz, and Spike Lee are well aware of the different expectations in this type of movie, and they use those expectations to their advantage as they create mystery, and tension in the movie while twisting and tweaking those expectations.

The film is suspenseful, and exciting, while delivering plenty of thrills.

But the film also features surprising oddly placed humor throughout the film to disarm and amuse us.

It's the first clue that Spike Lee is having fun with the viewer, and is obviously making a conscious effort to make this an audience friendly affair.

The movie also benefits from strong acting from the entire cast.

Denzel Washington and Clive Owen do an excellent job of anchoring the film.

But it's especially refreshing to see an engaging performance from Jodie Foster.

For some time now, we've seen her play mediocre heroine-type caricatures, in films like Flightplan and Contact. It's nice to see her stretch her legs a bit, and play a grounded, complex, character with morally ambiguous motivations.

Christopher Plummer, Wilem Dafoe and Chiwetel Ejifor round out the excellent cast, with solid enjoyable performances.

But ultimately the movie's success has to be credited to Spike Lee.

Sure the movie is not as provocative, and demanding...... or even as important as a lot of his earlier work. But it's good to see that Spike Lee acknowledge his abilities to deliver a well- executed standard mystery/suspense film, that one can enjoy with some popcorn and candy.

Although it's often commendable that artists try to provoke audiences to think politically, and challenge people into discussion.

It's also important to sometimes take a step back, and accept that ultimately an artist's job is to entertain.

And that's one thing that I can guarantee about Inside Man.......that it's entertaining.

Check it out now on DVD.