by Ethan Johnson
July 8, 2006
Hey! We actually left the house. Partly to go rent movies, but we saw something first-run as well. Oh happy day! Here's what I thought about the latest crop of retinal images:
A Prairie Home Companion: I'm not particularly fond of the actual radio show, so this movie had a big strike against it. Plus we saw it at what was apparently the least comfortable theatre in Dallas, so that was distracting as well. This movie had some high points, most notably the "bad jokes" duet by John C Reilly and Woody Harrelson. However, there are parts of the movie that upon a very brief moment of reflection are utterly pointless. So if you loooove NPR's weekend radio fare, you'll looooove this movie. Just remember that Robert Altman made Dr. T and the Women, and your expectations will be set appropriately. See the matinee in a comfortable seat, or hold out for cable/rental.
Bride & Prejudice: Having never read Pride & Prejudice, I'm not sure how true to the story this was, although I think the approach was to go with "loosely based", kinda like Hilary Duff movies. This was made by the same director as Bend It Like Beckham. It's no Beckham. But the movie is infectious in its own way, the women are stunning, the musical numbers are laughably (and purposely) over-the-top, and "Mr. Kholi" steals the show big time. Trust me, hold out for the Mr. Kholi scenes if you're having doubts about the movie. Plus Naveen Andrews (Lost) is in it and he speaks with his natural accent for a change. Worth the rental. Line of the movie, for me: "India is not a theme park."
Good Night, and Good Luck: Wow. I wasn't around for Edward R Murrow the first time, but David Stathairn's depiction really sold me. George Clooney meant for this movie to be a giant pimento up the Republican establishment's olive-y asses, and I'm thinking he was preaching to the choir more than he was changing any minds in the pews. But this is an excellent movie and well-told, without bombast or preachiness. If you're hoping to turn people on to say, certain excesses by a certain administration, or certain falling down on the job by a certain country's press corps, this is the movie to slip into the DVD player, not Fahrenheit 9/11. Worth the rental, and worth thinking/talking about after you watch it.
Sin City: Having spent several years being incensed at the fact that Frank Miller keeps cranking out the brilliance only to be effectively screwed by the Hollywood establishment, Hollywood finally decided to give him his due. Oh baby. This is an incredibly stylized movie and visually stunning. The acting and dialogue is a bit rough but I think that was done on purpose to fit in with the stylized feel and offering reassurances to "get over it, it's just a movie." Unfortunately, we already saw Kill Bill so the edge of this flick was somewhat dulled. But be prepared for a bit of the old ultraviolence. Not recommended for the squeamish. Worth the rental if you've been waiting for Frank Miller to finally get his damned credit.
Fun With Dick and Jane (2005): Sure, I'm basing this on two whole movies, but Tea Leoni should be enjoying steady work in the movies as a dishwater blonde suburban housewife for at least another 10 years. Not that this is a bad thing. But some movies, when I see the "casting by" credit, I wonder how much heavy lifting was involved to cast the parts. "Dishwater blonde housewife, eh? Tea Leoni! Next!" Anyway, in a nutshell, this is the comedy version of the Enron debacle. It has lighthearted and funny moments, but seeing the Enron story immediately afterwards kinda killed the laughter. It's an OK rental, but it may hit way too close to home for some.
It's a big movie month for us, as summer here is our "winter" in that it gets too hot to enjoy going outdoors. More first-run stuff is on tap as well. <EM>
