Everytime I see a film with Heath Ledger in it, it makes me sad. He transformed himself in every role.
The story has been told before in documentary form, but this was a bit more dramatic a take as no one needed to rely on old 8mm footage, television interviews or faded memories. They could just make it what they wanted. Great cast of young actors, many who have been seen in plenty since.
And bravo to the make up artist for Rebecca DeMornay. It takes some real talent to make her look that bad.
imdb.com
The film follows the surf and skateboarding trends that originated in Venice, California during the 1970′s.
This film started a week of seeing way too many pastie white man butts and Steve Coogan gave plenty.
When I heard this film was coming out and the premise, I was curious, but not enough to go to a theatre and plunk down 10 bucks. That was a good call. Though a basically enjoyable film, it was quite flawed. Too much angst with the wife and not enough time spent on the musical numbers.
Elizabeth Shue was quite funny in this film, the rest of it sort of glided along on basic premises of comedy including racial stereotypes and the little play that could.
An ok watch. Some fun musical numbers, no one was afraid of being silly, but not really one of the best of worse films I have seen lately. Just sort of there for the most part.
imdb.com
In this irreverent comedy, a failed actor-turned-worse-high-school-drama-teacher rallies his Tucson, AZ students as he conceives and stages politically incorrect musical sequel to Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
I was pretty excited to see this film as I really like the work of Jack Black, Mos Def, and Michel Gondry. All have been in work that is either pretty fun or really great. This effort did not live up to any of the things I have previously seen any of them in or direct. Ok, it was better than Tenacious D: Pick of Destiny.
Fun concept: having to redo all of the movies in a video store because they were all erased. Involving the neighborhood. Gaining a cult following. Watching another small business be taken down by a large corporation or two.
The film unfortunately didn’t live up to the promise. Maybe if had been ‘Sweded’. Danny Glover wandering around spying on large megacorp DVD rental stores. Mia Farrow playing some odd foster mother to the neighborhood kids. I was just hoping for more.
So, this isn’t the worst film, but if you are hoping the Gondry has another ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind‘, this is no where near it.
imdb.com
A man whose brain becomes magnetized unintentionally destroys every tape in his friend’s video store. In order to satisfy the store’s most loyal renter, an aging woman with signs of dementia, the two men set out to remake the lost films.
You never know how funny or not funny something listed as a comedy with Denis Leary in it will be. I personally would have liked to have seen more of the writers in the apartment next door.
imdb.com
A world-weary police detective who fails to stop a fast-food restaurant massacre struggles to regain his departmental reputation, public image and self-worth.
