2010. Dir: James L. Brooks. Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson and Kathryn Hahn. ●●○○○
How Do You Know if the movie you're in is an absolute dud? Well a good clue is when an extra walking into a building steals a scene from the romantic leads who you just know will end up together when the final curtain falls. Reese Witherspoon and Paul Rudd should really have looked behind them during the hospital scenes and handed in their notice at that point.
I apologise for starting the review using the title is such an obvious and derivative way. I'm not the first (much more learned critics have done the same) nor am I the most inventive but then neither is this movie. The title is so anodyne and bland it's difficult to imagine the rest of the film being able to crawl out of it's pointless premise.
Reese Witherspoon is the aging (32?) softball player dropped from the national team and so finds herself at a crossroads in her life. Amazingly she's the only member of the team replaced in this particular year even though her record appears to be impeccable. Owen Wilson is her philandering boyfriend - it's spot on casing even if Wilson is coasting with a dreadful accent. Paul Rudd and his father Jack Nicholson are facing FBI investigations into corporate corruption in Egypt (ooh, timely) and it takes no brains at all to work out who's taking the fall for whom in this company.
Note that of these central characters only Rudd comes close to having multiple sides to his personality, Witherspoon appears to need post-it notes to remind her to feel anything at all. In fact it could be said that Rudd is the only cast member able to walk away from this project with any dignity.
The fault lies with writer/director James L. Brooks who is clearly trying to repeat his 80's success with Broadcast News but forgetting to insert the vulnerability that made control freak Holly Hunter and vapid William Hurt such rounded characters. Here the instantly dislikeable characters have nothing hiding underneath to allow us to warm to them later, even when Brooks is clearly wanting us to let go and admit we all love each other.
Instead we have a series of sketch like scenes which often don't relate to each other with some lame humour thrown into the dialogue. The stand out of these follows on from Rudd secretary giving birth and her partner asking her to marry him, effectively played twice there is genuine humour and pathos in the reactions and memories of all of the performances in the scene. Something sadly lacking in the rest of the movie.
Sadly this is immediately followed by an extra in scrubs missing an automatic revolving door. Reese and Paul were saying something profound to each other at this point but I was far too busy bein istracted by the figure in blue. When that happens you know you're in trouble, and you know this is a movie best avoided.
Thursday, 24 February 2011
How Do You Know
Saturday, 29 January 2011
I see Dead people (Out this week - 28/01/11)
In three weeks time we'll be out of the Oscar season and the quality of films will drop ac down to it's usual level of mediocrity. In the meantime we have another week with four movies that could easily have come top of the heap, and a quality animation for the kids as well (which might actually be the film to knock The King's Speech off the top of the charts). Of course a winner has to be chosen so for now film of the week is Biutiful. 
Biutiful
Picking up a surprise (ish) nod for Javier Bardem this week in the Academy Awards, Aleandro Gonzalez Inarritu's first self-penned movie has divided critics since it's Cannes bow with relentless misery. That said it looks gorgeous in the trailer.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●●●○
Barney's Version
Highly respected adaptation of Mordecai Richler's novel which gained an oscar nomination for it's make-up this week. The titular Barney is played with schlubby aplomb by Paul Giamatti as we travel through his life of failed marriages, lack of career integrity and, possibly, murder. Dustin Hoffman and Minnie Driver are among the co-stars.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●●○○
Hereafter
Matt Damon stars as a medium in Clint Eastwood's latest drama based on a Peter Morgan script. Feted for it's opening tsunami and Damon's underplayed performance the reviews have been negative about the overall structure.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
How do you Know
Broadcast News and As Good as it Gets are now drifting a long way into the past as James L. Brooks seems to have forgotten what it was that made his earlier movies worthwhile. Reese Witerspoon agonises between two suitors, both of whom reveal inner anxieties throughout the movie.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Tangled
The Rapunzel-lite adaptation has taken over $180m in the US, putting it at number 10 of the 2010 releases and a solid entry in Disney's canon. By the way did you know this is their 50th in-house animation cinematic release? Should do well in this weeks crowded market.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji
I think thi is the only Bollywood release of the week, although given that we've got more under the radar releases from last week that could prove incorrect. Slight variation to the usual mismatched romantic comedy, this has an (awknowledged) 15 year age gap between the protagonists.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Accursed Blood
Kellen Lutz tries to pretend he's the draw for the Twilight crowd with an above the title mention on a dirty looking stalker drama. He will probably fail.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
The Mechanic
Jason Statham takes his shirt off, has sex with a girl to prove he's not gay, then teaches Ben Foster (why?!?) how to be a hitman in this remake of Charles Bronson's star making turn. Probably not worth seeing at cinemas.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
And more films missed from last week - 21/01/11
Portuguese Nun
French/Portuguese collaboration about an actress playing a Nun who experiences a religious epiphany. Leisurely and respectful this should have been better advertised.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Kutsal Damacana 3 Dracoola
The Turkish comic-horror (which looks neither funny nor scary) comes back with a third bite at the filmgoing public. There must be a market for it, but I can't think of anyone who'd go to see this.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Pranchiyetten and the Saint
I believe, from looking at the trailer, that this Bollywood film does actually concern Catholocism in India in a positive way, even the soundtrack mixes Eastern beats to religious plainsong.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Charlie Noades RIP
Independent British comedy (don't laugh) written by Bafta nominee Neil Fitzmaurice and starring a notable slection of small screen comedc talent, problem is this looks from the trailer like it's much more suited to the small screen, maybe late night Channel 4.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Tuesday Trailers - How do You Know?
I'm so far behind on the trailers now I'm previewing films that will open in just 3 days time, which is not a good place to be in. As I believe I've said before I love January and the rush of quality movies, but it can be one hell of a struggle watching them all. Not that James L. Brooks' latest comedy has anything but the stench of box office failure around it. Not that you'd guess from the trailer which indicates a standard, if uninteresting, romcom.
How do you Know is released on Friday 28 January 2011.
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Jack Nicholson
Happy Birthday to
Jack Nicholson
73 today
There are some actors who need no introduction. Three time Academy Award winner Jack Nicholson is one of them. If I had just said happy birthday Jack on it's own in todays post everyone would'v known who I was taliking about. Next up seeshis long awaited reunion with James L. Brooks in How do you Know, they have a really successful history so maybe it's time for Oscar 4.
Monday, 22 March 2010
Reese Witherspoon
Happy Birthday to
Reese Witherspoon
34 today
The term perky may as well have been invented for Reese Witherspoon, she always manages to portray a certain confidence which is rare in such a talent. Whether she can do vulnerable is less certain, hopefully we'll she another side of her in the upcoming James L. Brooks feature which may or may not be called How do You Know?
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
20 for 2010 - Number 12 (Untitled)
At least number 12 might be untitled, or it might be called How Do You Know, I guess we'll have to wait on James L. Brooks for confirmation of a title.
I will admit upfront that this film is my little cheat in the top 20 as I know it won't be coming out in the UK until 21 January 2011, but in the spirit of the rules of my countdown it fits in as a 2010 film (and I'm more curious about this than, say, Valentine's Day).
The plot revolves around a girl (Reese Witherspoon) choosing between the two men in her life played by Owen Wilson and Paull Rudd - I should imagine that the working title refers to how you know whether you're with "the one". I can also imagine that if you have Wilson and Rudd both throwing themselves at you then it would be hard to choose between them.
Brooks has previously directed 5 feature, 3 of which were critical and commercial hits with recognition from the Academy, and all of those starred his luck charm: Jack Nicholson. Jack is back for this piece, as the father of one of Reese's suitors so we can probably expect some metal on the matlepiece for someone involved.
Let's start the best supporting actor campaign for Owen Wilson now, even if he will be playing a thinly veiled version of himself no-one does that better.
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Film News (06/06/09)
Theres a trio writer directors making the headlines this week. Um, and a couple of other stories that I can't fit into a single witty headline.
How do you Know
Writer-director James L. Brooks has recruited his old buddy Jack Nicholson to join the supporting cast of this Reese Witherspoon vehicle set to start lensing next month. Nicholson's replacing the notoriously diffident Bill Murray, who forgot to checks hi messages, or something. Jack has won 2 Oscars whilst working for Brooks in the past, so hopefully there'll be some good things coming. The film only has How do you Know as a working title, but I prefer that to the untitled blah blah blah...
When Jack and James last worked together they made the world fall in love with Helen Hunt, and this yappy dog.
Creed of Violence
Writer-Director Todd Field (I'm determined to make that link work) has been hired as a writer to adapt Boston Teran's latest novel (it's due to be published later this year). Field only usually writes when he's going to direct as well, so I can almost get away with the opening words. Plot revolves around a desperado and a Government agent halting an arms smuggling operation in 1910.
Hamlet
It's been a couple of years since the last Hamlet adaptation, so we're due another. This time brought to the 21st century and starring an "age-appropriate" Emile Hirsch. I've seen some snark about this project, but I'm sure Hirsch has the acting chops to be able to carry the role. His work in Into the Wild was incredible, and Hamlet's similar just with an even weirder family.
Invictus
Kris Tapley over at Incontention had the scoop on the title for Eastwood's Mandela biopic, so I'll just link to that. The title comes from a poam by William Earnest Henley, that was a favourite of Mandela's during his time in prison.
Next Three Days
Yesterday the French Film Anything for Her came out in the UK, so this week the US remake has been announced. Writer-Director Paul Haggis (we're back with that ridiculous link) will be finding ways to make a film with little commercial appeal, yet strangely award magnety.
The French Film Poster.
Saturday, 21 February 2009
Film News (21/02/09)
Such a quiet week for film news - only three stories worth the mention.
Life of Pi
After bouncing around a couple of big name directors, Yann Martel's philosophical novel for all ages has settled on Ang Lee. And the one thing we know about Lee is he can handle every genre he's tried. Whilst a film set on a lifeboat with just a boy and a tiger may be a challenge it'll certainly be interesting to see what comes out of it.
How Do You Know?
James L. Brooks only surfaces every 5-10 years with a new adult (read smart and satirical not boobs and farts) comedy. His next one comes out later this year with Reese Witherspoon, and now Owen Wilson and Paul Rudd.
Salt
Formerly Edwin A. Salt, the Anjelina Jolie action vehicle has gained a leading man in the shape of Liev Schreiber. He's on a bit or a casting role right now.
