In a World

Posted in movies by - Oct 15, 2013
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In a World

If you have to choose, it’s better to underpromise and overdeliver.

‘In a World’ is a charming, clever film with modest ambitions. Helmed in every sense by the very likable Lake Bell, it’s a story set in the world of professional Voice-Over Artists. More specifically, it’s the story of the scramble to succeed the dearly departed Don LaFontaine, unquestioned ruler of the movie trailer kingdom and originator of the “In a world…” voiceover.

The movie is slight, but very charming. The whole enterprise has the merry air of a bunch of friends putting on a show – sort of the Silverlake mumblecore …

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Jobs

Posted in movies by - Aug 28, 2013
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Jobs

This movie would have to be twice as good as it is just to suck. What it feels like is less a big-budget biopic and more like a third-rate ABC ‘Movie of the Week’.

I am aware that some readers might be too young to remember when the major networks did ‘Movies of the Week’. If that’s you, good for you being so young – here’s a quick primer.

In the long-ago 70s, three terrible networks ruled the land. They had no real competition except for cinema. To fight this lone enemy they created movies of their own, to run …

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The World’s End

Posted in movies by - Aug 28, 2013
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The World’s End

This is the kind of thing that keeps me going to movies.

World’s End is the final piece of the ever-so-loose Cornetto trilogy, which I believe will make them the undisputed buddy-movie champions of all time. It is also, probably, the best of the three. This is saying quite a lot, because Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz are pretty fantastic.

Like its predecessors, the movie is dressed up in genre clothes, but at heart it’s about what it means to grow up. The genre this time is alien invasion, and even though it’s a comedy, the team nail …

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Man of Steel

Posted in movies by - Jul 11, 2013
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Man of Steel

There is an essential problem with all superhero movies: they are stupid. They violate the most basic rules of storytelling. To make a ‘hero’s journey’ story, you need your hero to do a few simple things, most of which superheroes cannot do.

The hero has to start out wanting something. This something has to be a bit out of reach. It can be fame, or love, or glory or a ’69 Camaro. Superheroes have trouble with this because they are super, and that makes most things within their reach. This is especially true of Superman, who has virtually unlimited powers. …

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The Lone Ranger

Posted in movies by - Jul 11, 2013
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The Lone Ranger

Sometimes you only stay in the theater because it’s super hot and muggy outside and your apartment is somehow even hotter.

I feel kind of bad for everyone involved in this heap of steamy garbage. Not bad enough to forgive them, maybe, but bad enough to wonder how no one had the heart to tell Verbinsky and Depp that they have become quite terrible at their work.

I’ve mentioned it before, but it bears repeating – Johnny Depp has apparently decided to let costumes do all of his acting for the duration of his career. In this case, it’s a silly hat …

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World War Z

Posted in movies by - Jun 22, 2013
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World War Z

Movies like this are the reason for summertime to exist. Sitting in the dark, in an air-conditioned theater and having my senses overloaded by a movie that holds together just long enough for me to get to the parking lot. ‘World War Z’ is relentless, in the best way.

If you spend a lot of time trying to tease out the illogical contrivances of the plot, or focusing on the spots where the CG looks a bit unfinished, you can cheat yourself out of a good time. It’s a fast zombie movie, with a medical procedural undergirding the main story. …

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SIFF: Dirty Wars

Posted in movies by - Jun 20, 2013
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SIFF: Dirty Wars

This is more worth your time than a thousand Superman flicks, but probably very few people are going to see it. ‘Dirty Wars’ doesn’t appear to have a big promotional budget, and politically sensitive documentaries aren’t common in multiplexes.

You should probably be one of the people who does see it, if it’s showing where you live or if it ends up in some sort of VOD situation you can access.

The movie is about the effect of our wars on the civilian populations trapped inside of them, and about the outsourced, semi-private war machine we’ve built. He tells the story mostly …

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SIFF: The East

Posted in movies by - Jun 19, 2013
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SIFF: The East

So I guess ‘The East’ is supposed to be the official Hollywood take on the Occupy movement. I guess it had to happen sometime, but it shouldn’t have happened this way.

The East is the enigmatic name of a peculiar bunch of anti-corporate freegans who stage public shamings of misbehaving institutions. If you’re the CEO of a company that spills oil, they fill your personal HVAC system with motor oil. Pollute a lake, they contrive to feed you lakewater and force you into the drink on camera.

Brit Marling (Sound of My Voice, Another Earth) plays a corporate spy …

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Olympus Has Fallen

Posted in movies by - Jun 13, 2013
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Olympus Has Fallen

I liked this movie better when it took place in Nakatomi Plaza.

(drops mic. walks off.)

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This is the End

Posted in movies by - Jun 12, 2013
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This is the End

‘This is the End’ is a movie about obnoxious comic actors confronting the apocalypse, and their own darkest selves. It is populated by obnoxious comic actors playing those dark selves. Except Michael Cera, one hopes. I think he’s playing Andy Dick.

It’s also a lowbrow stoner comedy that hits a lot more than it misses. The overall feeling is the one you get from the movies the Rat Pack made – what they lack in focus they cover with energy and esprit de corps.

The setup is that Jay Baruchel has come to LA to hang out with his bestie Rogen. …

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