Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Inglourious Bastards (2009)


Introduction:
I try not to miss Tarantino’s films. I enjoy them more often than not. But for some reason I never got around to checking this one out until recently. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around him doing a war film. I should have known that this isn’t exactly a war film at all.

Summary:
In the middle of World War II a cast of characters is on a collision course with fate. First there’s Lt. Raine (Brad Pitt) and his Jewish crew of Nazi killers. These guys have created an unstoppable force that is putting the fear of God back into the Germans. Then there’s Shosanna (Melanie Laurent) a lovely woman who owns a movie theater. A chance encounter with a Nazi actor, Fredrick Zoller (Daniel Bruhl) gives her a chance at the ultimate revenge. Finally there is the deadly and charming Col. Landa (Christoph Waltz) whose skills in hunting down people (and Jews in particular) is about to be severely tested. The movie climaxes with explosions, shootouts and an inferno. But really did you expect a movie called Inglorious Bastards to end any other way?

Good Points:
  • Really ratchets up the tension in key scenes
  • Christoph Waltz steals nearly every scene he’s in
  • Has some great Tarantino lines


Bad Points:
  • The tone seems a bit inconstant in this one
  • Some of the Tarantino dialogue just doesn’t click in subtitles
  • The violence is going bother some viewers

Overall:
Another solid film by Tarantino, I enjoyed it quite a bit. However this felt like it was trying to be a little too epic to be the trashy good fun I expected to find. This made the film difficult to completely enjoy because I wasn’t sure if I should be laughing or deeply disturbed. In the end, I figured this will required another viewing in the future. I’ve found I enjoy his work more with each viewing.

Scores (out of 5)
Visuals: 4
Sound: 4
Acting: 4
Script: 4
Music: 4
Direction: 4
Entertainment: 4
Total:  4

Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.

Friday, January 6, 2012

The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

Introduction:
Before they unleashed Fargo on the world in 1996, Joel and Ethan Coen released a playful homage to the golden era of films. At the time the screwball comedy mixed with some unusual casting choices didn’t ring true for audiences. Were those audiences missing out on something, or did the Coen brothers make a movie too quirky to work?

Summary:
In the year 1958 Norville Barnes (Tim Robbins) arrives from the small town of Muncie, in the metropolis of New York. He’s ready to find a corporate job (after graduating from business school), and eventually gets hired into the mailroom of Hudsucker Industries. He arrives just in time, because corporate head Waring Hudsucker (Charles Durning) has just killed himself in a spectacular fashion. The board is concerned because Hudsucker’s stock is going to be sold at the first of the year, and they want to retain control. So they come up with a cunning plan to drive the stock down, and scoop it up cheap. All they need is a chump they can promote to be the new president of Hudsucker Industries. And so begins Norville’s meteoric rise to power. Will he be able to avoid the traps laid by the conniving Sidney Mussburger (Paul Newman) and plucky reporter Amy Archer (Jennifer Jason Leigh)? Norville’s got a swell idea and it involves a single circle – you know, for kids!

Good Points:
  • Has an amazing visual look to it, with excellent camera work all the way around
  • Tim Robbins nails the part of good-natured dope
  • Excellent use of Carter Burwell’s adapted musical score

Bad Points:
  • Some of the casting choices and performances will annoy viewers
  • The mix of quirkiness and classic age filming style misses the boat in places
  • Too over the top for its own good

Overall:
This is a fun movie with its heart in the right place. And while I enjoy all the visual flair, I will admit that some of the performances are an acquired taste. Leigh is doing her best fast talking Katherine Hepburn, and I know some folks hated it. Others complained endlessly about the misuse of Paul Newman as the mustache-twirling villain (he looks like he’s having a great time). I was just disappointed by the criminally underused Bruce Campbell. The movie has a spirit all its own, and if you enjoy classic cinema and are familiar with the Coen brothers’ style of humor, you’ll find a lot to enjoy. The hula-hoop montage alone is worth the price of the rental.

Scores (out of 5)
Visuals: 5
Sound: 4
Acting: 4
Script: 4
Music: 5
Direction: 4
Entertainment: 4
Total:  4

Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.