Saturday, July 31, 2010

Dinner for Schmucks

Photo #3
**1/2 stars

Is witty randomness in a comedy funny or just plain random? That is the question I had to ask myself after Jay Roach's Dinner for Schmucks, a adaptation of the french film Le dîner de Cons. Paul Rudd and Steve Carrell offer their predictably comfortable chemistry, just comfortable enough where humor is expected, but too comfortable enough where it all becomes a bit too familiar. Carrell plays Barry, a mentally unstable alter ego of Rain Man who spends his days creating portraits out of dead mice. Rudd plays it safe with his go-to-persona as the likeable guy who dislikes everything and is forced to make a decision between his career and his personal life. But he only has to do that until the script hits the third act and lets him get everything anyways. I did catch myself laughing more than once at the film's stylishly crafted climatic dinner scene, but in the end, the result is a mixed bag.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Salt

Photo #2

** stars


A movie based off an original screenplay doesn’t necessarily make it original. The latest bad-ass-chick-spy-flick starring Angelina Jolie rips off so many other movies that it actually comes off as if it were trying to be something new. After an intriguing first act, Salt gets bogged down in ridiculous action sequences and bombastic twists, ultimately leaving viewers coldly unsatisfied. While I still admire Jolie’s hard-hitting performance, I can’t help but wonder why she chose a story about a character that’s been done so many times before. She’s already proven to everyone that she’s the biggest female action star in the world. Next time, remember that audiences deserve more than just reassurance.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

M. Night Shyamalan: To Be Continued...


It’s been almost three weeks since The Last Airbender was released. My emotions have cooled.

When the film was released, I stated in an article (about the hatred critics have towards Shyamalan) that I was considering giving up film criticism forever. While I’m still pondering my future, I figured it would only be fair to have a follow up to that article because I did state a quote from Roger Ebert, “Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you,” as a way to express my anger towards the universal pan of The Last Airbender, even though I still found the film to be a disappointment.


I realized after I published that article that my emotions had rattled my intellect quite a bit. But I still stand by remarks for a few definitive reasons.


In my original article, I stated that the 3D was a major reason why the film was a failure. This is still true. I went to see it again in 2D and it was a much better visual experience. However, I did take the time to analyze what I had heard from others and why many felt that Shyamalan failed as a writer.


I’ll admit: Shyamalan ultimately failed. I probably noticed it more than most because I am still such a huge fan of his. The man used to be considered one of the stronger storytellers in the business, but like many filmmakers, he has become lost in his own world. This happens to many who helm such a big project.


For example, when Darren Aronofsky’s The Fountain fell apart after budget concerns, he disappeared to China for weeks. He later resurfaced, and in my mind fully succeeded. Shyamalan on the other hand seemed unable to balance his parts in so many aspects of the film (writing, producing, directing, and even marketing) that he forgot to tell the story he was supposed to tell.


As a director, Shyamalan was still able to bring his visual wizardry to the screen. And while I can understand that the first hour of the film can be hard to get through, I still enjoyed the third act. Combining James Newton Howard’s intriguing score (and Shyamalan owes a lot to this man for creating some of the best soundtracks of the past decade) and Industrial Light and Magic’s fantastic visual effects gave the film an acceptable finish.


In this day and age, moviegoers are lucky to see even a handful of memorable films. Especially in 2010, which is one of the worst years for movies ever. The Last Airbender may be a disappointment, but I think the reason why I gave it somewhat of a passing grade was because it was trying to be something different.


I think it’s wrong for critics to pan a filmmaker in such degrading ways because it becomes more about rants for journalism sakes rather than how someone individually feels. While there is certainly nothing wrong about trashing a film, it’s how you trash it that makes all the difference.


In Michael Bay’s case, you’re supposed to trash his films. He expects you too. So do it in a way that adds to that notion. In Shyamalan’s case, it’s as though people are on a mission to see him fail. I can’t even tell people I’m a Shyamalan fan half the time because I’m looked down upon before I even open my mouth. Yet it seems people have forgotten about Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which (for me, anyways) is close to the worst movie of all time.


So you can calm down about your hatred towards this movie, because a sequel is probably not going to happen. While it’s grossed an acceptable $100+, you were able to piss and moan enough that Paramount has probably gotten the message. Feel better now?


Maybe after writing this second article, my emotions are back. You'll find out for sure in article number three.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Inception

Photo #9

**** stars


Thank you Inception, for reviving the movie industry.


Before this visually exhilarating masterpiece, this year of movies was dead on arrival. Not only will this film take your dreams and show them to you, it feels almost guaranteed that no other film will come close to matching Inception’s emotional complexity, at least this year anyway. This is the movie event of the moment, the most satisfying film of the year, and an instant classic of the sci-fi genre. It’s James Bond plus The Matrix, with a pinch of Stanley Kubrick, and thrown into a blender controlled by Christopher Nolan.


Leonardo Dicaprio amazes me. He’s been on an absolute roll (including this year’s Shutter Island) and there’s no stopping him here as Dom Cobbs, a professional subconscious extractor who steals peoples dreams by breaking into them. During the dream state, the mind is at its most vulnerable, and Cobb has nearly perfected his skilled thief ability. However, he is running from his past after a job in corporate espionage turned him into an international fugitive. Losing his wife in the process, Mal (played remarkably by Marion Cotillard), Cobb must take one final job to get his life back.


Alright, that’s the basics. Well, then again, there are no basics when it comes to Inception. Whether or not you understand the plot is irrelevant. There are dozens of scenarios going on at once, and it is the viewer’s choice to decide which one they want to follow. It doesn’t matter which one. They all have one hell of a payoff. You could follow Cobb’s tragic story of losing his loved one. You can take the journey with Cobb and his dream team of specialists where instead of pulling off a heist to steal an idea, their task is to plant one in someone else’s mind (aka Inception). Or even follow the layers of a dream and how the deeper you go, the more dangerous it becomes of ever coming out of one.


There has always been a beauty to Christopher Nolan’s screenplays. There is more to see than meets the eye. There is more to feel than meets the heart. There is more to dream than meets the mind. Inception sneaks into your thoughts and ignores any request of extraction.


Dicaprio and Cotillard are on fire, and with the combination of them and an A-list cast including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Michael Caine, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger and Tom Hardy, there’s a certain maturity to this film that moviegoers these days can only seem to dream of. Luckily for us, the dream is real. If someone told me that there was a film out there that could possibly reach the blockbuster heights of The Dark Knight, I’d say that only Christopher Nolan would be able to do it. He may have just done it. Maybe I’ll know for sure after a necessary second or third viewing.


In the words of my friend Vincent Pisacane, “Inception saves the summer from all the shitastic shit that came out before it.” Amen, Vince. Amen.

Thursday, July 01, 2010

The Last Airbender Reaction: This Critic Has Had Enough of Critics

I never thought I’d see the day where I’d consider giving up film criticism…

Forever.

Today may be the day.

One of my all time heroes, Roger Ebert, once said, “Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you.” I have lived by this quote ever since I discovered it back in high school (I even used it as my senior yearbook quote). I have been reviewing movies since I was 13 years old. I am now 21. I was planning on reviewing movies forever.

But things change.

Because it is in this quote by Roger Ebert that has for the first time, failed me. This is directly linked to the outlandish and irresponsible bashing towards M. Night Shyamalan’s newest film, The Last Airbender.

First and foremost, let’s get the obvious stuff out of the way. The movie is being viewed as a disappointment. And it certainly is. The editing is choppy, the acting and writing are stiff, and it feels very rushed. While I still found it entertaining enough to give it a positive review, I understand why this film has been negatively received.

That is not the issue here. The issue is HOW it’s being negatively received. In all my years of reviewing and loving movies, I have never seen such clear and blatant hatred towards one filmmaker (you’ve been impeached Michael Bay). The saddest part? It doesn’t even seem to be about his movies anymore. It’s becoming personal.

This is not a film critic’s job. A critic’s job requires him or her to look at a film, ANY FILM, from a clear and objective viewpoint. Everyone knows my hatred towards Michael Bay, (and yes I enter his films cautiously), but I’m always optimistic that he may surprise me. As for M. Night, I have and always will be a big fan. While I’m sad to see him underperform again, he does not deserve the hatred that has now been injected into his bloodstream.

“Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you” is a quote about trusting your own judgment. Who cares what anyone else thinks? If you have an emotional connection to a movie, then it’s your responsibility to honor that when your intellect is having trouble keeping up. For example, when I first saw Darren Aronofsky’s The Fountain, I couldn’t figure it all out, but I knew it was one of the most emotional experiences I’ve ever had watching a film.

In regards to The Last Airbender, (EVEN BEFORE THE MOVIE WAS EVEN RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC!) there has already been a universal agreement that this is “the death knell to Shyamalan’s career” (James Berardinelli from ReelViews). That “he is an idiot” (Matt Pais from Metromix.com). That “M. Night can ruin the world” (Jordan Hoffman from UGO). Even Roger Ebert, one of the fathers of film criticism, collapses under his own words. Ebert hates 3-D. And yes, he’s right, the 3-D is awful here. But he also took away a whole star from Toy Story 3 because of the 3-D, so he seemed ready to jump on Airbender before even viewing it. Why didn’t you see it in 2-D? Or were you too excited to jump all over the 3-D because you knew it would be a more interesting piece of journalism?

In fact, I could even use a quote from his review from The Happening, which he liked and gave three stars, to describe how I feel about The Last Airbender. “I suspect I'll be in the minority in praising this film. It will be described as empty, uneventful, meandering. But for some, it will weave a spell.” You forgot about us some this time around, Mr. Ebert.

He’s not alone. Everyone’s jumping on the bandwagon. It happened in 2008 with The Happening, in 2006 with Lady in the Water, and in 2004 with The Village. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen someone change their mind about Shyamalan just because everyone seems to shit on him.

Therefore, I conclude with what I started with: Has the emotions of critics confused their intellect? Are they automatically built to search for the negative and block out the positive in a Shyamalan film? Am I the only who found the third act of the film to be a rousing, visually stimulating action spectacle?

It’s completely acceptable to hate the movie. Go ahead. It’s your right as a moviegoer. But it’s not cool to do it for coolness sake. It’s cool to remember that Shyamalan has made some great movies. And that hopefully one-day, when everyone gets over being a critic, they’ll remember what it was like to be a moviegoer. If this onslaught continues, I will be forced to depart from the critic inside me and join the latter. I fell in love with this profession because I love the movies. I would hate to become the person that would make someone feel the way I feel today.

After all, your emotions will never lie to you.

The Last Airbender

Photo #36
**1/2 stars

I can't tell you how long I've waited for this movie. It always felt as if it were in the distant future. Now that it's in the past, I can relax, and say this objectively: While it is a disappointment, it's still an entertaining movie.

But I'm sure there will be people who are even more disappointed then I am. I've always had to defend myself when people have told me that the only reason why I want to see (or will like) The Last Airbender is because it's an M. Night Shyamalan film. I respond with a simple answer: yes. And to no surprise, I found The Last Airbender to be a visually absorbing, high-spirited fantasy epic.

However, I know I will probably in the minority on this one, because it definitely feels like a Shyamalan movie. He has always been a better director than a screenwriter, and the movie takes a while to find the right groove. Once it's found, the movie kicks in to high gear with a beautifully staged battle sequence.

Based off the hugely successful Nickelodeon Anime Series, The Last Airbender tells the story of four nations made up of four different elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water), where the Fire Nation has declared war and only the last remaining airbender (played by newcomer Noah Ringer) can stop them from destroying mankind. The criticism this film has received for its controversial casting (having white actors play parts that were originally of Asian decent) went from legitimate to downright frustrating. I think there was a mistake somewhere, but it's certainly no reason to boycott a movie unless of course it was the filmmaker's intention to purposely piss people off. Maybe that's why Jesse McCartney was replaced with Slumdog Millionaire's Dev Patel.

At 103 minutes, The Last Airbender never really has the time to naturally unfold all four elements. The film tends to rush in order to stay faithful to the series's first season, but it's satisfying as a Shyamalan fan to know that my expectations were somewhat met. I implore people to see the film in 2-D, because the 3-D conversion almost ruined everything. When that's the case, I know that the movie itself is not to blame.